भक्तियोग Bhakti Yoga · Verse 16
अनपेक्षः शुचिर्दक्ष उदासीनो गतव्यथः | सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः
anapekṣaḥ śucir dakṣa udāsīno gata-vyathaḥ | sarvārambha-parityāgī yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ
Free from expectations, pure, skillful, impartial, free from anxiety, renouncing all selfish initiative — that devotee of mine is dear to me.
The qualities continue:
- Anapekṣa — free from expectations, not dependent on results
- Śuci — pure (externally and internally)
- Dakṣa — skillful, competent, capable
- Udāsīna — impartial, neutral, detached
- Gata-vyatha — free from anxiety or affliction
- Sarvārambha-parityāgī — renouncing all (selfish) initiative
Anapekṣa is Patañjali’s detachment applied to daily life. The yogī acts without depending on results.
Dakṣa is surprising: the yogī is not incompetent or clumsy. Practice refines capabilities, it doesn’t dull them. Skill and detachment coexist.
Sarvārambha-parityāgī doesn’t mean inaction. It means renouncing selfish initiative — acting from the personal ego. Action continues, but without the “I” as center.