Bhagavad Gita 2.50 · Yogah Karmasu Kaushalamबुद्धियुक्तो जहातीह उभे सुकृतदुष्कृते।तस्माद्योगाय युज्यस्व योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् ॥
buddhi-yukto jahātīha ubhe sukṛita-duṣhkṛite
tasmād yogāya yujyasva yogaḥ karmasu kauśhalam
Sanskrit recitation
Act without clinging to the fruit · 2.47–2.53 · Teaching
Translation
Endowed with wisdom and evenness of mind, one casts off in this life both good and evil deeds; therefore, devote yourself to Yoga; Yoga is skill in action.
Hindi translation
बुद्धि-(समता) से युक्त मनुष्य यहाँ जीवित अवस्थामें ही पुण्य और पाप दोनोंका त्याग कर देता है। अतः तू योग-(समता-) में लग जा, क्योंकि योग ही कर्मोंमें कुशलता है।
Meaning
Work performed with motive towards fruits only can bind a man. It will bring the fruits and the performer of the action will have to take birth again in this mortal world to enjoy them. If work is performed with evennes of mind (the Yoga of wisdom, i.e., united to pure Buddhi, intelligence or reason) with the mind resting in the Lord, it will not bind him it will not bring any fruit it is no work at all. Actions which are of a binding nature lose that nature when performed with equanimity of mind, or poised reason. The Yogi of poised reason attributes all actions to the Divine Actor within (Isvara or God).
After Swami Sivananda
Act without clinging to the fruit· 2.47–2.53→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 2.47Your right is only to work, but not to its results; do not let the results of action be…
- 2.48Perform action, O Arjuna, being steadfast in Yoga, abandoning attachment and balanced in…
- 2.49Far lower than the Yoga of wisdom is action, O Arjuna. Seek thou refuge in wisdom;…
2.50Endowed with wisdom and evenness of mind, one casts off in this life both good and evil…
- 2.51The wise, possessing knowledge, having abandoned the fruits of their actions, and being…
- 2.52When your intellect passes beyond the mire of delusion, then you will attain indifference…
- 2.53When your intellect, which is perplexed by the Vedic texts you have read, stands immovable…
Word-by-word→
- iha
- in this life
- ubhe
- both
- jahāti
- get rid of
- tasmāt
- therefore
- yogaḥ
- yog is
- yogāya
- for Yog
- yujyasva
- strive for
- buddhi-yuktaḥ
- endowed with wisdom
- karmasu kauśhalam
- the art of working skillfully
- sukṛita-duṣhkṛite
- good and bad deeds
Related verses
- 14.2Those who, having taken refuge in this knowledge, have attained unity with Me, are neither…
- 12.4Having restrained all the senses, being even-minded everywhere, and intent on the welfare…
- 6.14Serene-minded, fearless, firm in the vow of a Brahmachari, having controlled their mind,…
- 2.39This, which has been taught to you, is wisdom concerning Sankhya. Now listen to wisdom…