Chapter 5, Verse 2 (Bhagavad Gita 5.2)
Chapter 5: Karm Sanyās Yog – Path of Renunciation
Sanskrit Shloka
श्री भगवानुवाच संन्यासः कर्मयोगश्च निःश्रेयसकरावुभौ। तयोस्तु कर्मसंन्यासात्कर्मयोगो विशिष्यते
Transliteration
śhrī bhagavān uvācha sannyāsaḥ karma-yogaśh cha niḥśhreyasa-karāvubhau tayos tu karma-sannyāsāt karma-yogo viśhiṣhyate
Word Meanings
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha—the Supreme Lord said; sanyāsaḥ—renunciation; karma-yogaḥ—working in devotion; cha—and; niḥśhreyasa-karau—lead to the supreme goal; ubhau—both; tayoḥ—of the two; tu—but; karma-sanyāsāt—renunciation of actions; karma-yogaḥ—working in devotion; viśhiṣhyate—is superior
Translation
The Blessed Lord said: Renunciation of action and Karma Yoga both lead to the highest bliss; but of the two, the Yoga of action is superior to the renunciation of action.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse teaches that spiritual liberation is not found in fleeing from the world, but in transforming our engagement with it. True renunciation is not the abandonment of work, but the abandonment of egoic attachment to the fruits of our efforts. By practicing Karma Yoga, we transmute our worldly duties into an offering to the Divine, which keeps the heart purified and the mind balanced. This approach is superior because it acknowledges our human nature while providing a practical, accessible path to transcendence within daily life.