Chapter 6, Verse 1 (Bhagavad Gita 6.1)
Chapter 6: Dhyān Yog – Path of Meditation
Sanskrit Shloka
श्री भगवानुवाच अनाश्रितः कर्मफलं कार्यं कर्म करोति यः। स संन्यासी च योगी च न निरग्निर्न चाक्रियः
Transliteration
śhrī bhagavān uvācha anāśhritaḥ karma-phalaṁ kāryaṁ karma karoti yaḥ sa sannyāsī cha yogī cha na niragnir na chākriyaḥ
Word Meanings
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha—the Supreme Lord said; anāśhritaḥ—not desiring; karma-phalam—results of actions; kāryam—obligatory; karma—work; karoti—perform; yaḥ—one who; saḥ—that person; sanyāsī—in the renounced order; cha—and; yogī—yogi; cha—and; na—not; niḥ—without; agniḥ—fire; na—not; cha—also; akriyaḥ—without activity
Translation
The Blessed Lord said: He who performs his prescribed duty without seeking the fruits of his actions is both a sannyasi (renunciate) and a yogi, not he who merely abandons the sacrificial fire and ritual activities.
Meaning & Commentary
This sloka fundamentally redefines renunciation from an external rejection of life to an internal shift in consciousness. It teaches that the true abandonment is not of work itself, but of the ego-driven desire for specific outcomes. By performing one’s duty as an offering, the seeker attains the meditative stillness of a yogi while remaining active in the world. This wisdom bridges the gap between spirituality and daily life, asserting that liberation is found in the motive behind our actions, not in the avoidance of our responsibilities.