Chapter 2 · Verse 51

Transcendental Knowledge

कर्मजं बुद्धियुक्ता हि फलं त्यक्त्वा मनीषिणः। जन्मबन्धविनिर्मुक्ताः पदं गच्छन्त्यनामयम्

karma-jaṁ buddhi-yuktā hi phalaṁ tyaktvā manīṣhiṇaḥ janma-bandha-vinirmuktāḥ padaṁ gachchhanty-anāmayam

Word Meanings

karma-jam buddhi-yuktāḥ hi phalam tyaktvā manīṣhiṇaḥ janma-bandha-vinirmuktāḥ padam gachchhanti anāmayam

Translation

The wise, endowed with equanimity of intellect, renounce the fruits of their actions and, freed from the bondage of birth and death, attain that state beyond all suffering.

Commentary

कर्मजम् actionborn? बुद्धियुक्ताः possessed of knowledsge? हि indeed? फलम् the fruit? त्यक्त्वा having abandoned? मनीषिणः the wise? जन्मबन्धविनिर्मुक्ताः freed from the fetters of birth? पदम् the abode? गच्छन्ति go? अनामयम् beyond evil.Commentary Clinging to the fruits of actions is the cause of rirth. Man takes a body to enjoy them. If anyone performs actions for the sake of God in fulfilment of His purpose without desire for the fruits? he is released from the bonds of birth and attains to the blissful state or the immortal abode.Sages who possess evenness of mind abandon the fruits of their actions and thus escape from good and bad actions.Buddhi referred to in the three verses 49? 50 and 51 may be the wisdom of the Sankhyas? i.e.? the knowledge of the Self or AtmaJnana which dawns when the mind is purified by Karma Yoga.