Chapter 2 Verse 48
Sānkhya Yog
योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय। सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते।।2.48।।
yoga-sthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā dhanañjaya siddhy-asiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā samatvaṁ yoga uchyate
Word Meanings
| yoga-sthaḥ | being steadfast in yog |
| kuru | perform |
| karmāṇi | duties |
| saṅgam | attachment |
| tyaktvā | having abandoned |
| dhanañjaya | Arjun |
| siddhi-asiddhyoḥ | in success and failure |
| samaḥ | equipoised |
| bhūtvā | becoming |
| samatvam | equanimity |
| yogaḥ | Yog |
| uchyate | is called |
Translation
Perform action, O Arjuna, being steadfast in Yoga, abandoning attachment and balanced in success and failure; evenness of mind is called Yoga.
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
This verse tells us to keep doing our duties while remaining steady in inner calm — that steady state is called yoga. It does not ask us to stop acting, but to act without clinging to results or letting success and failure disturb our peace.
When you drop attachment to outcomes, your work becomes clearer and less driven by fear or craving. True balance is a practiced quality: you meet gain and loss with the same mind, and that equal-mindedness is the heart of spiritual life.
Being "yoga-stha" means being present and centered while you act. It is practical: a steady mind makes better choices and suffers less from ups and downs.
Life Application
- Set an intention before tasks: focus on doing your best, not on controlling the result.
- Notice emotional swings after success or failure; breathe, observe, and return to steady action.
- Keep daily habits (work, relationships, chores) as practice grounds for remaining calm and non-attached.
Reflection Question
Where in my life am I most attached to results, and how would my actions change if I stayed calm instead?