Chapter 2, Verse 48 (Bhagavad Gita 2.48)
Chapter 2: Sānkhya Yog – Transcendental Knowledge
Sanskrit Shloka
योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय। सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते
Transliteration
yoga-sthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā dhanañjaya siddhy-asiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā samatvaṁ yoga uchyate
Word Meanings
yoga-sthaḥ—being steadfast in yog; kuru—perform; karmāṇi—duties; saṅgam—attachment; tyaktvā—having abandoned; dhanañjaya—Arjun; siddhi-asiddhyoḥ—in success and failure; samaḥ—equipoised; bhūtvā—becoming; samatvam—equanimity; yogaḥ—Yog; uchyate—is called
Translation
Perform your duty, O Arjuna, abandoning attachment and remaining steady in both success and failure, for this equanimity of mind is known as Yoga.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse presents the profound secret of Karma Yoga, teaching that the spiritual value of an action lies not in its outcome, but in the attitude of the performer. By detaching oneself from the desire for specific results, the practitioner transcends the anxiety and frustration that typically accompany human ambition. This equanimity, or samatva, transforms mundane work into a meditative act, allowing one to remain centered amidst the inevitable fluctuations of life. Ultimately, it teaches that true mastery of life is found not in changing the external world, but in maintaining a balanced, undisturbed inner consciousness regardless of external circumstances.