Relative and Non-relative/Absolute
“He who sees inaction in action and action in inaction is wise among men; he is a yogi; he is the one who has accomplished everything.”
Thus, in Chapter 4, Verse 18 of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna imparts this profound teaching to Arjuna.
The “inaction” (Akarma) referred to by Sri Krishna should not merely be understood as a state of being inactive or doing nothing. Rather, it may be understood as the Divine Grace itself—the all-pervading reality that exists everywhere and at all times and therefore has neither coming nor going.
This is beautifully expressed by Saint Manikkavachakar, blessed by the supreme grace of Lord Shiva, in the Sivapuranam:
“O Blessed One, who has neither coming nor going, nor union nor separation;
O my Protector who guards me; O Great Radiance beyond perception.”
In the same spirit, Vallalar, in his Arutperunjothi Agaval, declares:
“Not even an atom can move without Grace;
Therefore, O True Shiva, you proclaimed that the goodness of Grace should pervade everywhere.”
Since every movement of an atom—in other words, every action (karma)—takes place only through Divine Grace, the deeper meaning of this verse of the Gita may therefore be understood as
“He who sees Grace (Akarma) in action (Karma),
and action in Grace (Akarma),
is wise among men.”
Thus, karma and grace are not two separate or opposing realities. Every action occurs through Grace, and every action is an expression of Grace itself.
This profound truth is also reflected in Thiruvalluvar’s Thirukkural:
SaarpuNarndhu, saarpu kedaozhukin matrazhiththuch
Saardharaa saardharu noai
“Having understood attachment and conducted oneself free from attachment,
The suffering born of attachment will not return to afflict one again.”
When, through the Grace of the Guru, one realizes that karma and Grace are interdependent, attachment—the very sense of dependence and clinging—naturally falls away.
When that attachment disappears and everything is experienced as being pervaded by Grace, the suffering that arises from attachment can no longer return to take hold.
Thus, seeing Grace in action and action in Grace becomes the vision through which one moves from the relative to the non-relative/absolute.
Sri Gurubhyo Namaha 🙏
Aadesh 