One who is united with clear discernment casts off both good and bad deeds in this life. Therefore, devote yourself to yoga, for yoga is skill in action.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 2.50
Hindi · हिन्दी
बुद्धिसमता से युक्त मनुष्य यहाँ जीवित अवस्थामें ही पुण्य और पाप दोनोंका त्याग कर देता है । अतः तू योगसमता में लग जा, क्योंकि योग ही कर्मोंमें कुशलता है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
बुद्धियुक्तःone united with discerning mindजहातिcasts offइहhere, in this lifeउभेbothसुकृतदुष्कृतेgood deed and bad deedतस्मात्thereforeयोगायfor yogaयुज्यस्वbe devotedयोगःyogaकर्मसुin actionsकौशलम्skill, dexterity
Read literallyone united with discerning mind · casts off · here, in this life · both · good deed and bad deed · therefore · for yoga · be devoted · yoga · in actions · skill, dexterity
Understanding the verse
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Yoga is skill in action, Krishna says, and a steady mind is what makes the skill.
Clear discernment lets a person rise above both merit and fault. Krishna tells Arjuna to take up yoga, because true yoga is skill in action.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna deepens his teaching: when the mind is steady, a person is no longer bound by the usual grip of merit and fault. That is why he urges Arjuna toward yoga.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
A junior doctor keeps second-guessing yesterday's decision on the ward round instead of examining today's patient. Krishna would have her learn from it, set the merit and blame aside, and work with a clear head.
The takeaway
“You do not have to be trapped by the moral weight of every result.”
Clear discernment lets a person rise above both merit and fault. Krishna tells Arjuna to take up yoga, because true yoga is skill in action.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 2.50?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Sankhya Yoga" (The Yoga of Knowledge).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 2.50?
Verse 50 sits in Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita — Sankhya Yoga, "The Yoga of Knowledge". The chapter has 72 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 2.50 matter today?
A junior doctor keeps second-guessing yesterday's decision on the ward round instead of examining today's patient. Krishna would have her learn from it, set the merit and blame aside, and work with a clear head.
Yoga is skill in action, Krishna says, and a steady mind is what makes the skill.
What this verse means
Clear discernment lets a person rise above both merit and fault. Krishna tells Arjuna to take up yoga, because true yoga is skill in action.
Context & commentary
Krishna deepens his teaching: when the mind is steady, a person is no longer bound by the usual grip of merit and fault. That is why he urges Arjuna toward yoga.
What it looks like today
A junior doctor keeps second-guessing yesterday's decision on the ward round instead of examining today's patient. Krishna would have her learn from it, set the merit and blame aside, and work with a clear head.
“You do not have to be trapped by the moral weight of every result.”
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses), karma yoga (55 verses), samatva (13 verses)