No one ever, at any time, even for a moment, stands without doing action. Why? Because everyone, every living being, is made to act, is driven to action, helplessly, without freedom, by the qualities born of nature, sattva, rajas and tamas. The word 'ignorant' is to be supplied, since He will say later 'he who is not shaken by the qualities' (Gītā 14.23). Since the Sāṅkhyas are set apart, the yoga of action is for the ignorant alone, not for the knowers; for the knowers, who are not shaken by the qualities, since they have no movement of their own, the yoga of action is not possible. This was explained at 'know the indestructible' (Gītā 2.21). What was said, that one who does not know the Self does not undertake the enjoined action, He says is simply wrong.

For no man present in this world ever, at any time, remains doing no action at all. Even a man resolved 'I will do nothing at all' is, helpless, made to do the action suited to him by the qualities, sattva, rajas, and tamas, born of matter and grown strong in accord with his earlier karma. So, by the discipline of action of the character described, having destroyed the earlier heap of sin and brought the qualities, sattva and the rest, under control, the discipline of knowledge is to be accomplished with an inner organ made pure. Otherwise, the Lord says, one who has set out for the discipline of knowledge becomes a man of false conduct.

This is a brief sub-gloss. For a fuller reading of this verse, see Madhusūdana, Śaṅkara, or Rāmānuja above.

Nor can actions be given up in every way, Krishna says with 'for no one ever rests, even for a moment, without doing action'.