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Study a Verse
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Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 2.48
योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय ।
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते ॥ ४८ ॥
yoga-sthaḥ kuru karmāṇi
saṅgaṁ tyaktvā dhanañ-jaya
siddhy-asiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā
samatvaṁ yoga ucyate
Perform your duty equipoised, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
Do your duty with an even mind, without attachment to success or failure. This balance is called yoga.
Yoga means controlling the senses and focusing the mind on the Supreme Lord. Following Kṛṣṇa’s instructions is real yoga.
Serve Kṛṣṇa and do your duty to please Him, not yourself. The results are His concern.
Definition of “Real Yoga”
As per translation – To perform duty equiposed without attachment to success or failure
As given in purport – To concentrate mind on Supreme by controlling ever disturbed senses
Krishna Consciousness is “Real Yoga” because it involves:
Following of Krishna’s dictations which is “Real Yoga”
Giving up one’s own sense of proprietorship
Right way to act in Krishna consciousness – Working as ‘servant of the servant’ of Krishna
Gain and victory are Krishna’s concern
Fighting in ‘Krishna consciousness’ as recommended yoga practice for Arjuna
Ref. Vishnu Purana – Aim of Varnashrama is to satisfy Vishnu or Krishna
For Arjuna fighting as a religious duty under Krishna’s dictation is the correct observance of Varnashrama – thus it is “Real Yoga”
Conclusion – One can achieve this platform of yoga and detachment by following the Lord’s dictations in devotional service
FIGHT! But without any reaction – Niskarma-karma-yoga
One works (karma) with knowledge (jnana)
Thus detached from the fruit of his work
Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.
The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.
Key ideas: karma, sva-dharma.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What does BG 2.48 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to duty & action?
Do one task today purely because it is right.
Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.
Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.
Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.