Chapter 2, Verse 51 (Bhagavad Gita 2.51)
Chapter 2: Sānkhya Yog – Transcendental Knowledge
Sanskrit Shloka
कर्मजं बुद्धियुक्ता हि फलं त्यक्त्वा मनीषिणः। जन्मबन्धविनिर्मुक्ताः पदं गच्छन्त्यनामयम्
Transliteration
karma-jaṁ buddhi-yuktā hi phalaṁ tyaktvā manīṣhiṇaḥ janma-bandha-vinirmuktāḥ padaṁ gachchhanty-anāmayam
Word Meanings
karma-jam—born of fruitive actions; buddhi-yuktāḥ—endowed with equanimity of intellect; hi—as; phalam—fruits; tyaktvā—abandoning; manīṣhiṇaḥ—the wise; janma-bandha-vinirmuktāḥ—freedom from the bondage of life and death; padam—state; gachchhanti—attain; anāmayam—devoid of sufferings
Translation
The wise, established in this wisdom of equanimity, abandon the fruits of their actions, and being liberated from the cycle of birth and death, attain the state that is beyond all suffering.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse reveals the secret of spiritual freedom through the practice of Nishkama Karma, or selfless action. By detaching oneself from the results of work, an individual transcends the ego-driven desires that bind the soul to the cycle of reincarnation. It teaches that true intelligence lies in maintaining mental equilibrium amidst the ups and downs of life. When one acts without craving for reward, the mind becomes purified and steady, allowing it to abide in the eternal, painless state of transcendence. Ultimately, it is a call to align our temporal duties with an eternal perspective, turning every act into an offering.