Chapter 5, Verse 11 (Bhagavad Gita 5.11)
Chapter 5: Karm Sanyās Yog – Path of Renunciation
Sanskrit Shloka
कायेन मनसा बुद्ध्या केवलैरिन्द्रियैरपि। योगिनः कर्म कुर्वन्ति सङ्गं त्यक्त्वाऽऽत्मशुद्धये
Transliteration
kāyena manasā buddhyā kevalair indriyair api yoginaḥ karma kurvanti saṅgaṁ tyaktvātma-śhuddhaye
Word Meanings
kāyena—with the body; manasā—with the mind; buddhyā—with the intellect; kevalaiḥ—only; indriyaiḥ—with the senses; api—even; yoginaḥ—the yogis; karma—actions; kurvanti—perform; saṅgam—attachment; tyaktvā—giving up; ātma—of the self; śhuddhaye—for the purification
Translation
Yogis, having abandoned attachment, perform actions only through the body, mind, intellect, and senses, for the purification of the self.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse teaches the profound technique of performing action without the egoic weight of personal outcomes. By detaching oneself from the 'I' and 'mine,' a practitioner transforms mundane labor into a sacred ritual of self-cleansing. This psychological shift allows the mind to remain equanimous, preventing the accumulation of karmic impressions that cloud our inner clarity. Ultimately, it reveals that true liberation is not found in renouncing work, but in renouncing the clinging nature of the ego during work. It guides the seeker to act as a pure instrument of the Divine, purifying the intellect and revealing the true Self.