Chapter 5: Karma Sanyasa Yoga
Renunciation of Action
Arjuna asks which is better — renouncing action or performing it. Krishna replies that both lead to the same goal, but action performed in yoga is the better path. The one established in yoga acts with body, mind and senses while offering every result, and so remains untouched, as a lotus leaf is untouched by the water it rests on. The chapter closes with the peace that comes from knowing the Divine as the friend of all beings.
All 29 verses of Chapter 5
Verse 5.1
अर्जुन उवाच । संन्यासं कर्मणां कृष्ण पुनर्योगं च शंससि । यच्छ्रेय एतयोरेकं तन्मे ब्रूहि सुनिश्चितम् ।।1।।
arjuna uvāca sannyāsaṃ karmaṇāṃ kṛṣṇa punar yogaṃ ca śaṃsasi yac chreya etayor ekaṃ tan me brūhi suniścitam
Arjuna said: O Krishna, You praise renunciation of action, and then also praise the yoga of action. Tell me clearly which one of these two is better.
Life lesson: It's okay to ask for clarity more than once — real understanding often takes a few honest rounds of questions.
Read verse 5.1 in full →Verse 5.2
श्रीभगवानुवाच । संन्यासः कर्मयोगश्च निःश्रेयसकरावुभौ । तयोस्तु कर्मसंन्यासात्कर्मयोगो विशिष्यते ।।2।।
śrī bhagavān uvāca sannyāsaḥ karma-yogaś ca niḥśreyasa-karāv ubhau tayos tu karma-sannyāsāt karma-yogo viśiṣyate
The Supreme Lord said: Both renunciation and the yoga of action lead to the highest good; but of the two, the yoga of action is superior.
Life lesson: When someone asks you a direct question today, try to give a clear answer rather than leaving them uncertain.
Read verse 5.2 in full →Verse 5.3
ज्ञेयः स नित्यसंन्यासी यो न द्वेष्टि न काङ्क्षति । निर्द्वन्द्वो हि महाबाहो सुखं बन्धात्प्रमुच्यते ॥
jñeyaḥ sa nitya-sannyāsī yo na dveṣṭi na kāṅkṣati nirdvandvo hi mahā-bāho sukhaṁ bandhāt pramucyate
One who neither hates nor desires anything should be known as ever renounced. Free from dualities, O mighty-armed, such a person is easily freed from bondage.
Life lesson: Notice today when you're either grasping for something or pushing something away — just noticing that pull is its own small freedom.
Read verse 5.3 in full →Verse 5.4
साङ्ख्ययोगौ पृथग्बालाः प्रवदन्ति न पण्डिताः । एकमप्यास्थितः सम्यगुभयोर्विन्दते फलम् ।।4।।
sāṅkhya-yogau pṛthag bālāḥ pravadanti na paṇḍitāḥ ekam apy āsthitaḥ samyag ubhayor vindate phalam
Only the immature speak of Sankhya and Yoga as different, not the wise. One who is truly established in either attains the fruit of both.
Life lesson: Trust that if you're sincerely committed to any one good path, you don't need to worry you're missing out on another.
Read verse 5.4 in full →Verse 5.5
यत्साङ्ख्यैः प्राप्यते स्थानं तद्योगैरपि गम्यते । एकं साङ्ख्यं च योगं च यः पश्यति स पश्यति ।।5।।
yat sāṅkhyaiḥ prāpyate sthānaṃ tad yogair api gamyate ekaṃ sāṅkhyaṃ ca yogaṃ ca yaḥ paśyati sa paśyati
The state attained by followers of Sankhya is also reached by followers of Yoga. One who sees Sankhya and Yoga as one truly sees.
Life lesson: Practice looking past surface differences today to find the shared truth underneath.
Read verse 5.5 in full →Verse 5.6
संन्यासस्तु महाबाहो दुःखमाप्तुमयोगतः । योगयुक्तो मुनिर्ब्रह्म नचिरेणाधिगच्छति ।।6।।
sannyāsas tu mahā-bāho duḥkham āptum ayogataḥ yoga-yukto munir brahma na cireṇādhigacchati
But renunciation, O mighty-armed one, is difficult to attain without yoga. The sage devoted to yoga swiftly attains the Absolute.
Life lesson: If a slower, harder path and a practical, engaged one lead to the same place, consider choosing the practical one.
Read verse 5.6 in full →Verse 5.7
योगयुक्तो विशुद्धात्मा विजितात्मा जितेन्द्रियः । सर्वभूतात्मभूतात्मा कुर्वन्नपि न लिप्यते ॥
yoga-yukto viśuddhātmā vijitātmā jitendriyaḥ sarva-bhūtātma-bhūtātmā kurvann api na lipyate
One who is united in yoga, purified in self, self-controlled, with senses mastered, and who sees the same self in all beings, is not bound even while acting.
Life lesson: As you go through today's tasks, try seeing a bit of yourself in everyone you deal with — it keeps action from becoming isolating.
Read verse 5.7 in full →Verse 5.8
नैव किञ्चित्करोमीति युक्तो मन्येत तत्त्ववित् । पश्यञ्शृण्वन्स्पृशञ्जिघ्रन्नश्नन्गच्छन्स्वपञ्श्वसन् ॥
naiva kiñcit karomīti yukto manyeta tattva-vit paśyañ śṛṇvan spṛśañ jighrann aśnan gacchan svapañ śvasan
The one established in truth, though seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, moving, sleeping, and breathing, knows within, "I do nothing at all."
Life lesson: As you move through today's routine actions, notice how much simply flows on its own — you don't have to grip every moment so tightly.
Read verse 5.8 in full →Verse 5.9
प्रलपन्विसृजन्गृह्णन्नुन्मिषन्निमिषन्नपि । इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेषु वर्तन्त इति धारयन् ।।9।।
pralapan visṛjan gṛhṇann unmiṣan nimiṣann api indriyāṇīndriyārtheṣu vartanta iti dhārayan
Even while speaking, releasing, grasping, or opening and closing the eyes, they hold firmly that it is only the senses moving among their objects.
Life lesson: Notice today that even your most automatic, everyday actions can be held with a light, non-grasping awareness.
Read verse 5.9 in full →Verse 5.10
ब्रह्मण्याधाय कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा करोति यः । लिप्यते न स पापेन पद्मपत्रमिवाम्भसा ॥
brahmaṇy ādhāya karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā karoti yaḥ lipyate na sa pāpena padma-patram ivāmbhasā
One who acts, offering all actions to the divine and abandoning attachment, is untouched by sin, just as a lotus leaf is untouched by water.
Life lesson: Move through today's mess fully engaged, like a lotus leaf on water — present, but not letting it all stick to you.
Read verse 5.10 in full →Verse 5.11
कायेन मनसा बुद्ध्या केवलैरिन्द्रियैरपि । योगिनः कर्म कुर्वन्ति सङ्गं त्यक्त्वात्मशुद्धये ।।11।।
kāyena manasā buddhyā kevalair indriyair api yoginaḥ karma kurvanti saṅgaṃ tyaktvātma-śuddhaye
Yogis perform action with body, mind, intellect, and even with the senses alone, abandoning attachment, for the purpose of self-purification.
Life lesson: Try today to see your work as a way of refining yourself inwardly, not just achieving an outward goal.
Read verse 5.11 in full →Verse 5.12
युक्तः कर्मफलं त्यक्त्वा शान्तिमाप्नोति नैष्ठिकीम् । अयुक्तः कामकारेण फले सक्तो निबध्यते ।।12।।
yuktaḥ karma-phalaṃ tyaktvā śāntim āpnoti naiṣṭhikīm ayuktaḥ kāma-kāreṇa phale sakto nibadhyate
The one who is united with the divine, having abandoned the fruit of action, attains lasting peace; the undisciplined, driven by desire and attached to results, becomes bound.
Life lesson: Notice today which of your actions come from calm dedication and which come from anxious craving for a result.
Read verse 5.12 in full →Verse 5.13
सर्वकर्माणि मनसा संन्यस्यास्ते सुखं वशी । नवद्वारे पुरे देही नैव कुर्वन्न कारयन् ॥
sarva-karmāṇi manasā sannyasyāste sukhaṁ vaśī nava-dvāre pure dehī naiva kurvan na kārayan
The self-controlled soul, having mentally renounced all actions, dwells happily in the nine-gated city of the body, neither acting nor causing action.
Life lesson: However busy your hands are today, take a moment to find that quiet room within that stays undisturbed by it all.
Read verse 5.13 in full →Verse 5.14
न कर्तृत्वं न कर्माणि लोकस्य सृजति प्रभुः । न कर्मफलसंयोगं स्वभावस्तु प्रवर्तते ।।14।।
na kartṛtvaṃ na karmāṇi lokasya sṛjati prabhuḥ na karma-phala-saṃyogaṃ svabhāvas tu pravartate
The Lord does not create the sense of doership, actions, or their fruits for the world; rather, it is one's own nature that brings these about.
Life lesson: Take ownership of your own choices today, understanding that outcomes largely follow from your own nature and effort.
Read verse 5.14 in full →Verse 5.15
नादत्ते कस्यचित्पापं न चैव सुकृतं विभुः । अज्ञानेनावृतं ज्ञानं तेन मुह्यन्ति जन्तवः ।।15।।
nādatte kasyacit pāpaṃ na caiva sukṛtaṃ vibhuḥ ajñānenāvṛtaṃ jñānaṃ tena muhyanti jantavaḥ
The all-pervading Lord accepts neither anyone's sin nor virtue; knowledge is veiled by ignorance, and thus beings become deluded.
Life lesson: When you feel confused or lost today, look for the gap in your own understanding rather than assuming outside blame.
Read verse 5.15 in full →Verse 5.16
ज्ञानेन तु तदज्ञानं येषां नाशितमात्मनः । तेषामादित्यवज्ज्ञानं प्रकाशयति तत्परम् ।।16।।
jñānena tu tad ajñānaṃ yeṣāṃ nāśitam ātmanaḥ teṣām āditya-vaj jñānaṃ prakāśayati tat param
But for those whose ignorance has been destroyed by knowledge of the self, that knowledge illuminates the Supreme like the rising sun.
Life lesson: Trust that today's confusion is temporary, and that clarity, once it comes, can arrive as suddenly as sunrise.
Read verse 5.16 in full →Verse 5.17
तद्बुद्धयस्तदात्मानस्तन्निष्ठास्तत्परायणाः । गच्छन्त्यपुनरावृत्तिं ज्ञाननिर्धूतकल्मषाः ।।17।।
tad-buddhayas tad-ātmānas tan-niṣṭhās tat-parāyaṇāḥ gacchanty apunar-āvṛttiṃ jñāna-nirdhūta-kalmaṣāḥ
With their intellect, self, and devotion fixed on That, and their impurities washed away by knowledge, they go to the state of no return.
Life lesson: Aim today to bring your thoughts, actions, and heart into alignment around the same clear priority.
Read verse 5.17 in full →Verse 5.18
विद्याविनयसम्पन्ने ब्राह्मणे गवि हस्तिनि । शुनि चैव श्वपाके च पण्डिताः समदर्शिनः ॥
vidyā-vinaya-sampanne brāhmaṇe gavi hastini śuni caiva śva-pāke ca paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ
The truly wise see with equal vision a learned and humble scholar, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and one who eats dogs.
Life lesson: Today, try looking past someone's status or role and simply see the person — that equal vision is a quiet act of respect.
Read verse 5.18 in full →Verse 5.19
इहैव तैर्जितः सर्गो येषां साम्ये स्थितं मनः । निर्दोषं हि समं ब्रह्म तस्माद् ब्रह्मणि ते स्थिताः ॥
ihaiva tair jitaḥ sargo yeṣāṁ sāmye sthitaṁ manaḥ nirdoṣaṁ hi samaṁ brahma tasmād brahmaṇi te sthitāḥ
Even here in this life, those whose minds are established in equanimity have conquered the cycle of birth and death, for Brahman is flawless and the same everywhere, and so they are established in Brahman.
Life lesson: Look for a small chance today to meet both good and bad news with the same steady mind — that steadiness is its own freedom.
Read verse 5.19 in full →Verse 5.20
न प्रहृष्येत्प्रियं प्राप्य नोद्विजेत्प्राप्य चाप्रियम् । स्थिरबुद्धिरसम्मूढो ब्रह्मविद्ब्रह्मणि स्थितः ।।20।।
na prahṛṣyet priyaṃ prāpya nodvijet prāpya cāpriyam sthira-buddhir asammūḍho brahma-vid brahmaṇi sthitaḥ
One should not rejoice on obtaining what is pleasant, nor be troubled on obtaining what is unpleasant. Steady of mind, undeluded, the knower of Brahman abides in Brahman.
Life lesson: Practice meeting today's good and bad news with the same calm, unshaken center.
Read verse 5.20 in full →Verse 5.21
बाह्यस्पर्शेष्वसक्तात्मा विन्दत्यात्मनि यत्सुखम् । स ब्रह्मयोगयुक्तात्मा सुखमक्षयमश्नुते ।।21।।
bāhya-sparśeṣv asaktātmā vindaty ātmani yat sukham sa brahma-yoga-yuktātmā sukham akṣayam aśnute
One whose mind is unattached to external contacts finds happiness within the self; united with the Divine through yoga, such a person enjoys unending bliss.
Life lesson: Look inward today for a small, quiet joy that doesn't depend on anything outside going a certain way.
Read verse 5.21 in full →Verse 5.22
ये हि संस्पर्शजा भोगा दुःखयोनय एव ते । आद्यन्तवन्तः कौन्तेय न तेषु रमते बुधः ॥
ye hi saṁsparśa-jā bhogā duḥkha-yonaya eva te ādyantavantaḥ kaunteya na teṣu ramate budhaḥ
The pleasures that arise from contact with the senses are, in truth, sources of suffering. O Kaunteya, they have a beginning and an end; the wise do not delight in them.
Life lesson: Before chasing the next quick high today, ask if it will actually last — real contentment is worth building somewhere steadier.
Read verse 5.22 in full →Verse 5.23
शक्नोतीहैव यः सोढुं प्राक्शरीरविमोक्षणात् । कामक्रोधोद्भवं वेगं स युक्तः स सुखी नरः ।।23।।
śaknotīhaiva yaḥ soḍhuṃ prāk śarīra-vimokṣaṇāt kāma-krodhodbhavaṃ vegaṃ sa yuktaḥ sa sukhī naraḥ
One who is able to withstand, even here before leaving the body, the force born of desire and anger, is truly disciplined and truly happy.
Life lesson: The next time desire or anger surges within you today, practice simply riding it out without acting on it right away.
Read verse 5.23 in full →Verse 5.24
योऽन्तःसुखोऽन्तरारामस्तथान्तर्ज्योतिरेव यः । स योगी ब्रह्मनिर्वाणं ब्रह्मभूतोऽधिगच्छति ॥
yo 'ntaḥ-sukho 'ntar-ārāmas tathāntar-jyotir eva yaḥ sa yogī brahma-nirvāṇaṁ brahma-bhūto 'dhigacchati
One who finds happiness within, delight within, and is illuminated from within — such a yogi, united with the divine, attains liberation.
Life lesson: Spend a few minutes today looking for happiness within rather than around you — you might find it's been there all along.
Read verse 5.24 in full →Verse 5.25
लभन्ते ब्रह्मनिर्वाणमृषयः क्षीणकल्मषाः । छिन्नद्वैधा यतात्मानः सर्वभूतहिते रताः ।।25।।
labhante brahma-nirvāṇam ṛṣayaḥ kṣīṇa-kalmaṣāḥ chinna-dvaidhā yatātmānaḥ sarva-bhūta-hite ratāḥ
Sages whose impurities are destroyed, whose doubts are cut away, whose minds are disciplined, and who delight in the welfare of all beings, attain liberation in the Divine.
Life lesson: Let a genuine concern for others' wellbeing be part of your own path toward inner peace today.
Read verse 5.25 in full →Verse 5.26
कामक्रोधवियुक्तानां यतीनां यतचेतसाम् । अभितो ब्रह्मनिर्वाणं वर्तते विदितात्मनाम् ।।26।।
kāma-krodha-viyuktānāṃ yatīnāṃ yata-cetasām abhito brahma-nirvāṇaṃ vartate viditātmanām
For self-realized ascetics who are free from desire and anger, with minds controlled, liberation in the Divine is close at hand, both now and hereafter.
Life lesson: Believe that real inner freedom is available to you in this very life, not just as some distant future promise.
Read verse 5.26 in full →Verse 5.27
स्पर्शान्कृत्वा बहिर्बाह्यांश्चक्षुश्चैवान्तरे भ्रुवोः । प्राणापानौ समौ कृत्वा नासाभ्यन्तरचारिणौ ।।27।।
sparśān kṛtvā bahir bāhyāṃś cakṣuś caivāntare bhruvoḥ prāṇāpānau samau kṛtvā nāsābhyantara-cāriṇau
Shutting out external sense contacts, fixing the gaze between the eyebrows, and equalizing the incoming and outgoing breath within the nostrils.
Life lesson: Try a short, focused breathing exercise today to ground your understanding in real, embodied practice.
Read verse 5.27 in full →Verse 5.28
यतेन्द्रियमनोबुद्धिर्मुनिर्मोक्षपरायणः । विगतेच्छाभयक्रोधो यः सदा मुक्त एव सः ।।28।।
yatendriya-mano-buddhir munir mokṣa-parāyaṇaḥ vigatecchā-bhaya-krodho yaḥ sadā mukta eva saḥ
The sage who has mastered the senses, mind, and intellect, is devoted to liberation, and is free from desire, fear, and anger, is indeed forever free.
Life lesson: Let today's small victories over desire, fear, and anger add up toward the freedom this verse describes.
Read verse 5.28 in full →Verse 5.29
भोक्तारं यज्ञतपसां सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम् । सुहृदं सर्वभूतानां ज्ञात्वा मां शान्तिमृच्छति ॥
bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati
Knowing Me as the enjoyer of all sacrifice and austerity, the great Lord of all worlds, and the true friend of every being, one attains peace.
Life lesson: Remember today that whatever effort you offer is received by a presence that's genuinely on your side — let that settle your heart.
Read verse 5.29 in full →