श्री भगवानुवाचअनाश्रितः कर्मफलं कार्यं कर्म करोति यः ।
स संन्यासी च योगी च न निरग्निर्न चाक्रियः ॥
स संन्यासी च योगी च न निरग्निर्न चाक्रियः ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
श्रीभगवान् बोले कर्मफलका आश्रय न लेकर जो कर्तव्यकर्म करता है, वही संन्यासी तथा योगी है और केवल अग्निका त्याग करनेवाला संन्यासी नहीं होता तथा केवल क्रियाओंका त्याग करनेवाला योगी नहीं होता ॥
English
One who performs the required action without taking shelter in the fruit of action is a renunciate and a yogi. Not one who merely gives up fire, and not one who merely stops acting.
What this verse means
Real renunciation is not escaping action. It is doing what must be done without clinging to the result.
Context & commentary
On the Kurukshetra field, Arjuna is frozen before battle. Krishna begins by redefining renunciation: not as abandoning action, but as acting without dependence on results. This verse sets the tone for the whole teaching on self-mastery.
Why this verse still matters
You send the message, make the hard call, or finish the task late at night. The cleanest act is the one you can stand behind even if nobody rewards it.
The takeaway
There is relief in knowing that sincerity matters more than control.
Word-by-word translation
श्रीभगवानुवाच (the divine said) / अनाश्रितः (not taking refuge) / कर्मफलम् (fruit of action) / कार्यम् (what must be done) / कर्म (action) / करोति (does) / यः (who) / सः (that one) / संन्यासी (renunciate) / च (and) / योगी (yogi) / च (and) / न (not) / निरग्निः (without fire) / न (not) / च (and) / अक्रियः (one without action)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6: Dhyana Yoga — The Yoga of Meditation, which contains 47 verses.
Explore related themes: renunciation (14 verses), sannyasa (12 verses), nishkama karma (12 verses)