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.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 6.1
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 ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
श्रीभगवानुवाचthe divine saidअनाश्रितःnot taking refugeकर्मफलम्fruit of actionकार्यम्what must be doneकर्मactionकरोतिdoesयःwhoसःthat oneसंन्यासीrenunciateचandयोगीyogiचandनnotनिरग्निःwithout fireनnotचandअक्रियःone without action
Read literallythe divine said · not taking refuge · fruit of action · what must be done · action · does · who · that one · renunciate · and · yogi · and · not · without fire · not · and · one without action
Understanding the verse
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Krishna's renunciant does the required work without leaning on its fruit; giving up the ritual fire is not enough.
Real renunciation is not escaping action. It is doing what must be done without clinging to the result.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna begins by redefining renunciation for Arjuna, who is frozen before battle: it means acting without dependence on results, and abandoning action falls short of it. This verse sets the tone for the whole teaching on self-mastery.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
An accountant quits her job to escape office politics and finds the resentment came along with her. Krishna's sannyasi keeps working and drops dependence on results, which is harder and more honest than walking away.
The takeaway
“Do what must be done and stop leaning on the result.”
Real renunciation is not escaping action. It is doing what must be done without clinging to the result.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 6.1?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Dhyana Yoga" (The Yoga of Meditation).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 6.1?
Verse 1 sits in Chapter 6 of the Bhagavad Gita — Dhyana Yoga, "The Yoga of Meditation". The chapter has 47 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 6.1 matter today?
An accountant quits her job to escape office politics and finds the resentment came along with her. Krishna's sannyasi keeps working and drops dependence on results, which is harder and more honest than walking away.
Krishna's renunciant does the required work without leaning on its fruit; giving up the ritual fire is not enough.
What this verse means
Real renunciation is not escaping action. It is doing what must be done without clinging to the result.
Context & commentary
Krishna begins by redefining renunciation for Arjuna, who is frozen before battle: it means acting without dependence on results, and abandoning action falls short of it. This verse sets the tone for the whole teaching on self-mastery.
What it looks like today
An accountant quits her job to escape office politics and finds the resentment came along with her. Krishna's sannyasi keeps working and drops dependence on results, which is harder and more honest than walking away.
“Do what must be done and stop leaning on the result.”
Explore related themes: renunciation (14 verses), sannyasa (12 verses), nishkama karma (12 verses)