Chapter 5 · Verse 2

Path of Renunciation

श्री भगवानुवाच संन्यासः कर्मयोगश्च निःश्रेयसकरावुभौ। तयोस्तु कर्मसंन्यासात्कर्मयोगो विशिष्यते

śhrī bhagavān uvācha sannyāsaḥ karma-yogaśh cha niḥśhreyasa-karāvubhau tayos tu karma-sannyāsāt karma-yogo viśhiṣhyate

Word Meanings

śhrī-bhagavān uvācha — the Supreme Lord said; sanyāsaḥ — renunciation; karma-yogaḥ — working in devotion; cha — and; niḥśhreyasa-karau — lead to the supreme goal; ubhau — both; tayoḥ — of the two; tu — but; karma-sanyāsāt — renunciation of actions; karma-yogaḥ — working in devotion; viśhiṣhyate — is superior

Language:

Translation

The Blessed Lord said: Both renunciation of action and the yoga of action lead to the highest good; but of the two, the yoga of action is superior to the renunciation of action.

Commentary

संन्यासः renunciation? कर्मयोगः Yoga of action? च and? निःश्रेयसकरौ leading to the highest bliss? उभौ both? तयोः of these two? तु but? कर्मसंन्यासात् than renunciation of action? कर्मयोगः Yoga of action? विशिष्यते is superior.Commentary Sannyasa (renunciation of action) and Karma Yoga (performance of action) both lead to Moksha or liberation or the highest bliss. Though both lead to Moksha? yet of the two means of attaining to Moksha? Karma Yoga is better than mere Karma Sannyasa (renunciation of action) without the knowledge of the Self.But renunciation of actions with the knowledge of the Self is decidedly superior to Karma Yoga.Moreover? Karma Yoga is easy and is therefore suitable to all. (Cf.III.3V.5VI.46)