Chapter 12, Verse 11 (Bhagavad Gita 12.11)
Chapter 12: Bhakti Yog – The Yoga of Devotion
Sanskrit Shloka
अथैतदप्यशक्तोऽसि कर्तुं मद्योगमाश्रितः।सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं ततः कुरु यतात्मवान्
Transliteration
athaitad apy aśhakto ’si kartuṁ mad-yogam āśhritaḥ sarva-karma-phala-tyāgaṁ tataḥ kuru yatātmavān
Word Meanings
atha—if; etat—this; api—even; aśhaktaḥ—unable; asi—you are; kartum—to work; mad-yogam—with devotion to me; āśhritaḥ—taking refuge; sarva-karma—of all actions; phala-tyāgam—to renounce the fruits; tataḥ—then; kuru—do; yata-ātma-vān—be situated in the self
Translation
If you are unable to do even this, then take refuge in union with Me, and while possessing self-control, renounce the fruits of all actions.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound verse, Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, offers a compassionate path for the seeker who finds constant meditation or direct service challenging. By surrendering the fruits of one's actions to Lord Krishna, the devotee transforms worldly duties into an offering of love, thereby detaching the ego from the outcome. This practice of selfless action (Karma Yoga) serves as a bridge to the Divine, anchoring the soul in the remembrance of the Lord amidst worldly life. Shri Krishna emphasizes that self-control is the foundational discipline that allows a seeker to sustain this spirit of renunciation. Ultimately, this path leads the soul to liberation by dissolving the karmic bonds that tie one to the cycle of birth and death.