Chapter 2 Verse 51
Sānkhya Yog
कर्मजं बुद्धियुक्ता हि फलं त्यक्त्वा मनीषिणः। जन्मबन्धविनिर्मुक्ताः पदं गच्छन्त्यनामयम्।।2.51।।
karma-jaṁ buddhi-yuktā hi phalaṁ tyaktvā manīṣhiṇaḥ janma-bandha-vinirmuktāḥ padaṁ gachchhanty-anāmayam
Word Meanings
| karma-jam | born of fruitive actions |
| buddhi-yuktāḥ | endowed with equanimity of intellect |
| hi | as |
| phalam | fruits |
| tyaktvā | abandoning |
| manīṣhiṇaḥ | the wise |
| janma-bandha-vinirmuktāḥ | freedom from the bondage of life and death |
| padam | state |
| gachchhanti | attain |
| anāmayam | devoid of sufferings |
Translation
The wise, possessing knowledge, having abandoned the fruits of their actions, and being freed from the bonds of birth, go to the place which is beyond all evil.
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
The verse says that a wise person acts with a calm, steady mind and gives up attachment to the results of action. They do their duty without chasing rewards or fearing losses.
By letting go of fruits, such a person is freed from the repeating cycle of birth and suffering. Inner freedom comes from not tying identity to success or failure.
Equanimity — staying balanced in pleasure and pain — is the mark of spiritual maturity. This steady attitude leads to lasting peace, not temporary relief from outcomes.
Life Application
- Do your work fully, but practice releasing the need for a particular result. Focus on effort rather than outcome.
- When you feel tied to praise, money, or status, pause and remind yourself that your true worth is not in those results.
- Use small daily practices (mindful breathing, short prayers, or journaling) to steady your reactions to success and failure.
Reflection Question
What one result are you holding onto right now that keeps you from feeling free?