कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म यः | स बुद्धिमान्मनुष्येषु स युक्तः कृत्स्नकर्मकृत् ||१८||
karmaṇy akarma yaḥ paśhyed akarmaṇi cha karma yaḥ sa buddhimān manuṣhyeṣhu sa yuktaḥ kṛtsna-karma-kṛt
Translation
One who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, is intelligent among men, and he is in the transcendental position, although engaged in all sorts of activities.
Interpretation
The paradox of karma yoga: the sage who acts (externally) sees inaction within the action — because they are not the actor, the Self is unmoved. The sage who sits still (externally) may have active karma working out. True action and inaction are internal states, not external behaviors. This understanding makes one 'yukta' (connected to the divine) even while engaged in the full complexity of life.