Chapter 2 Verse 50
Sānkhya Yog
बुद्धियुक्तो जहातीह उभे सुकृतदुष्कृते। तस्माद्योगाय युज्यस्व योगः कर्मसु कौशलम्।।2.50।।
buddhi-yukto jahātīha ubhe sukṛita-duṣhkṛite tasmād yogāya yujyasva yogaḥ karmasu kauśhalam
Word Meanings
| buddhi-yuktaḥ | endowed with wisdom |
| jahāti | get rid of |
| iha | in this life |
| ubhe | both |
| sukṛita-duṣhkṛite | good and bad deeds |
| tasmāt | therefore |
| yogāya | for Yog |
| yujyasva | strive for |
| yogaḥ | yog is |
| karmasu kauśhalam | the art of working skillfully |
Translation
Endowed with wisdom and evenness of mind, one casts off in this life both good and evil deeds; therefore, devote yourself to Yoga; Yoga is skill in action.
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
A person guided by clear wisdom and steady mind acts without being tossed by praise or blame. This inner balance lets them let go of both good and bad reactions that usually bind us.
When actions are done without clinging to results, they no longer create new bondage. In other words, freedom from karma can begin while you are still living, once you act with understanding and calm.
Thus Krishna calls Yoga the skill of action. True yoga is not escaping work but doing it with clarity, full effort, and without attachment to outcomes.
Life Application
- Before acting, take a brief pause to check your intention: am I seeking reward or doing what is right? Act from duty and care, not from craving.
- Practice evenness in small daily events (praise, criticism, win, loss). Notice your reactions and gently return to calm, steady effort.
- Focus on doing each task well for its own sake; let the results unfold without making them your identity.
Reflection Question
When I act today, am I seeking the result or doing the work with clear, steady attention?