Sankhya Yoga · Verse 39

Bhagavad Gita 2.39

Clear understanding frees action from bondage.

Wisdom translation, edited by Ankur Shukla. Commentary AI-drafted, human-reviewed. Reviewed June 2026. Methodology →

एषा तेऽभिहिता सांख्ये बुद्धिर्योगे त्विमां श्रृणु ।
बुद्ध्यायुक्तो यया पार्थ कर्मबन्धं प्रहास्यसि ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे पार्थ यह समबुद्धि तेरे लिए पहले सांख्ययोगमें कही गयी, अब तू इसको कर्मयोगके विषयमें सुन जिस समबुद्धिसे युक्त हुआ तू कर्मबन्धनका त्याग कर देगा ॥
English
This wisdom has been taught to you in Sankhya. Now hear it in yoga. Equipped with this understanding, Arjuna, you will cast off the bondage of action.

What this verse means

Krishna says the same wisdom has already been explained as knowledge, and now he will explain it as action. With this clear understanding, Arjuna can break free from the bondage created by action.

Context & commentary

On Kurukshetra, Arjuna is frozen before battle. Krishna has already spoken of the self through wisdom, and now he turns to action. He says this same understanding will free Arjuna from being trapped by what he does.

Why this verse still matters

You understand the principle in a quiet room, then face the hard conversation. The real test is whether that clarity still holds when action begins.

The takeaway

The same truth can free you both in thought and in action.

Word-by-word translation

एषा (this) / ते (to you) / अभिहिता (has been taught) / सांख्ये (in Sankhya) / बुद्धिः (wisdom) / योगे (in yoga) / तु (now) / इमाम् (this) / श्रृणु (hear) / बुद्ध्या (with understanding) / युक्तः (equipped) / यया (by which) / पार्थ (Arjuna) / कर्मबन्धम् (bondage of action) / प्रहास्यसि (you will cast off)

Explore related themes: karma yoga (55 verses), buddhi (26 verses), sankhya (11 verses)

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