Bhagavad Gita
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श्री भगवानुवाच संन्यासः कर्मयोगश्च निःश्रेयसकरावुभौ। तयोस्तु कर्मसंन्यासात्कर्मयोगो विशिष्यते।।5.2।।
Verse Audio
śhrī bhagavān uvācha sannyāsaḥ karma-yogaśh cha niḥśhreyasa-karāvubhau tayos tu karma-sannyāsāt karma-yogo viśhiṣhyate
Core Philosophical Concepts
renunciation and action
karma yoga
inner detachment
clarity of path
freedom from confusion
Word-by-Word Meanings
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha (śhrī-bhagavān uvācha)the Supreme Lord said; sanyāsaḥ (sanyāsaḥ)renunciation; karma-yogaḥ (karma-yogaḥ)working in devotion; cha (cha)and; niḥśhreyasa-karau (niḥśhreyasa-karau)lead to the supreme goal; ubhau (ubhau)both; tayoḥ (tayoḥ)of the two; tu (tu)but; karma-sanyāsāt (karma-sanyāsāt)renunciation of actions; karma-yogaḥ (karma-yogaḥ)working in devotion; viśhiṣhyate (viśhiṣhyate)is superior;
Translation (English)

The Blessed Lord said, "Renunciation and the Yoga of action both lead to the highest bliss; but of the two, the Yoga of action is superior to the renunciation of action."

Translation (Hindi)

।।5.2।। श्रीभगवान् ने कहा -- कर्मसंन्यास और कर्मयोग ये दोनों ही परम कल्याणकारक हैं; परन्तु उन दोनों में कर्मसंन्यास से कर्मयोग श्रेष्ठ है।।

Verse Summary(English)

The Blessed Lord said, "Renunciation and the Yoga of action both lead to the highest bliss; but of the two, the Yoga of action is superior to the renunciation of action." It clarifies the relation between renunciation and Karma Yoga and favors inner detachment in action.

Verse Summary(Hindi)

श्रीभगवान् ने कहा -- कर्मसंन्यास और कर्मयोग ये दोनों ही परम कल्याणकारक हैं; परन्तु उन दोनों में कर्मसंन्यास से कर्मयोग श्रेष्ठ है।। यह भाग संन्यास और कर्मयोग के वास्तविक भेद को स्पष्ट करता है और निष्काम कर्म की श्रेष्ठता बताता है।

This verse in Chapter 5 develops the Gita's nuanced teaching on renunciation and action. It says: The Blessed Lord said, "Renunciation and the Yoga of action both lead to the highest bliss; but of the two, the Yoga of action is superior to the renunciation of action.". Its central themes include renunciation and action, karma yoga, inner detachment, clarity of path, showing that authentic sanyasa is primarily an inner transformation, not merely external withdrawal. Krishna's argument is practical and psychological. Action itself is not the problem; egoic ownership, craving, and aversion create bondage. When one performs duty with clarity, without possessiveness toward result, action becomes purifying rather than binding. Chapter 5 therefore integrates knowledge, discipline, and ethical responsibility, and demonstrates that serenity is compatible with active life. For real-world practice, this verse asks us to examine motive and identity while acting. Are we acting from fear, status-seeking, and control, or from dharma and steadiness. The chapter's method is to continue responsible work, reduce inner clinging, and stabilize awareness so that peace is not postponed to external success.

In Gita 5.2, Krishna sharpens the philosophical distinction between external renunciation and inner freedom while preserving the necessity of responsible action. The verse states: The Blessed Lord said, "Renunciation and the Yoga of action both lead to the highest bliss; but of the two, the Yoga of action is superior to the renunciation of action.". Its Sanskrit framing, "श्री भगवानुवाच", directs attention to renunciation and action; karma yoga; inner detachment, and treats bondage as a function of misidentification rather than of activity per se. From a non-dual standpoint, Chapter 5 undermines the assumption that cessation of outer work guarantees liberation; ignorance can persist under apparent quietism. Freedom matures when the sense of autonomous doership is examined and progressively relinquished. A devotional interpretation complements this by reorienting action as offering: works continue, yet appropriation softens into surrender. An ethical reading then clarifies why Karma Yoga remains indispensable: social life requires action, and spiritual maturity must be tested in relationship, duty, and consequence. The chapter's enduring contribution is its synthesis of metaphysical insight and civic responsibility. The knower sees sameness without collapsing difference, acts without interior violence, and remains poised amid praise, blame, gain, and loss. This is not indifference but refined participation. Chapter 5 therefore invites a disciplined interiority in which knowledge, restraint, and compassion converge, allowing peace to emerge not after life, but within life rightly understood and rightly lived. In this way, renunciation becomes a quality of consciousness, not a geographical relocation from the world.

इस श्लोक में पाँचवें अध्याय का मुख्य शिक्षण सामने आता है, जहाँ श्रीकृष्ण संन्यास और कर्मयोग के संबंध को स्पष्ट करते हैं। श्लोक का भाव है: श्रीभगवान् ने कहा -- कर्मसंन्यास और कर्मयोग ये दोनों ही परम कल्याणकारक हैं; परन्तु उन दोनों में कर्मसंन्यास से कर्मयोग श्रेष्ठ है।।। इसका केंद्र renunciation and action, karma yoga, inner detachment, clarity of path जैसे विषय हैं, जो बताते हैं कि वास्तविक संन्यास बाहर का त्याग भर नहीं, बल्कि भीतर की आसक्ति का त्याग है। गीता के अनुसार कर्म करना बंधन का कारण नहीं है; बंधन तब बनता है जब कर्म अहंकार, फल-लालसा और आसक्ति से जुड़ जाता है। जब साधक कर्तव्य को ईश्वरार्पण भाव से करता है, तब वही कर्म अंतःकरण को शुद्ध करता है और मन को स्थिर बनाता है। इसलिए अध्याय 5 शांति को निष्क्रियता से नहीं, बल्कि विवेकपूर्ण और निष्काम कर्म से जोड़ता है। व्यावहारिक जीवन में यह शिक्षा अत्यंत उपयोगी है। परिवार, कार्य और समाज में रहते हुए भी व्यक्ति समत्व, संयम और स्पष्ट बुद्धि विकसित कर सकता है। यह श्लोक साधक को प्रेरित करता है कि वह जिम्मेदारी से कर्म करे, पर भीतर से फल पर अधिकार-बोध छोड़े। इसी मार्ग से कर्म साधना बनता है और साधना से स्थायी शांति तथा मुक्त दृष्टि प्राप्त होती है।

Verse
5.2