बुद्धियुक्तो जहातीह उभे सुकृतदुष्कृते ।
तस्माद्योगाय युज्यस्व योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् ॥ ५० ॥
buddhi-yukto jahātīha ubhe sukṛita-duṣhkṛite
tasmād yogāya yujyasva yogaḥ karmasu kauśhalam
जो मनुष्य विचारशील बुद्धि से सुसज्जित होते हैं और जो परिणामों की आसक्ति के बिना कर्म करते हैं, वे इसी जन्म में अच्छे और बुरे दोनों कार्यों के प्रभावों से ऊपर उठा सकते हैं। इसलिए, तुम्हें इस योग को विकसित करना चाहिए, जो कुशल कार्य करने की कला है।
Equipped with deliberate intelligence, one who works without attachment to the results, can transcend the effects of both good and bad actions in this birth itself. Therefore, you should cultivate this Yoga, which is the art of skillful work.
Bhagavad Gita verse 2.50 offers a profound insight into the spiritual practice of yoga and its relationship to action. The Sanskrit text "yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam" translates to "yoga is skill in action," highlighting the artistry involved in performing one's duties with detachment. This verse follows Krishna's progressive guidance to Arjuna on how to approach his duties as a warrior.
In this verse, Krishna explains that a person established in buddhi-yoga (the yoga of intelligence or wisdom) transcends both virtue and vice even while living in this world. The term "buddhi-yukto" refers to someone whose intelligence is connected to the divine through selfless action. Such a person is able to relinquish attachment to both positive outcomes (sukṛta) and negative outcomes (duṣkṛte) of their actions. This state of equanimity represents freedom from the bondage of karma.
Krishna's teaching addresses Arjuna's concern about accruing sinful reactions from killing his family members in the battle. The profound message is that when actions are performed as a matter of duty, without attachment to results, they do not create karmic bondage. This represents a spiritual paradox - the very actions that typically cause entanglement in worldly affairs can become instruments of liberation when performed with the right consciousness.
This verse introduces the concept of "karmasu kauśalam" - the art or skill of working. Krishna describes yoga as this skill because it requires finesse to act in the world while remaining internally detached from outcomes. Like an expert craftsman who works with precision and care without becoming emotionally invested in each stroke, a yogi performs actions with full attention and excellence, yet maintains inner freedom. This skill allows one to navigate life's complexities without becoming emotionally overwhelmed by success or failure.
The equanimity described in this verse doesn't imply indifference or carelessness about one's work. Rather, it suggests performing actions with full attention and excellence, while simultaneously maintaining inner freedom from attachment to results. This balanced approach allows one to work in the world without being bound by it. The yogi performs actions with dedication but doesn't define their self-worth by the outcomes of those actions.
Krishna therefore urges Arjuna: "Therefore, engage yourself in yoga" (tasmād yogāya yujyasva). This exhortation reveals that yoga isn't merely a philosophical concept but a practical approach to life. By adopting this skillful attitude toward action, Arjuna can fulfill his duty as a warrior without accruing karmic reactions. The verse suggests that through consistent practice of this yoga, one can remain unaffected by worldly dualities and gradually move toward spiritual liberation.
The wisdom of this verse extends beyond Arjuna's battlefield dilemma to all aspects of human life. It offers a transformative approach to work and action that can free us from emotional turbulence and karmic entanglement. By cultivating this skill in action - performing duties with excellence while maintaining inner detachment from results - we can navigate life's challenges with grace and steadiness, gradually freeing ourselves from both the bonds of past actions and the anxiety about future outcomes.
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