Chapter 5 Verse 10
Karm Sanyās Yog
ब्रह्मण्याधाय कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा करोति यः। लिप्यते न स पापेन पद्मपत्रमिवाम्भसा।।5.10।।
brahmaṇyādhāya karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā karoti yaḥ lipyate na sa pāpena padma-patram ivāmbhasā
Word Meanings
| brahmaṇi | to God |
| ādhāya | dedicating |
| karmāṇi | all actions |
| saṅgam | attachment |
| tyaktvā | abandoning |
| karoti | performs |
| yaḥ | who |
| lipyate | is affected |
| na | never |
| saḥ | that person |
| pāpena | by sin |
| padma-patram | a lotus leaf |
| iva | like |
| ambhasā | by water |
Translation
He who does actions, offering them to Brahman and abandoning attachment, is not tainted by sin, just as a lotus leaf is not tainted by water.
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
This verse teaches that you can act in the world without being harmed by the results if you offer your actions to the Divine (Brahman) and give up personal attachment. The key is the inner attitude: doing your duty, but not clinging to praise, profit, or specific outcomes.
The image of the lotus leaf shows this clearly: water touches the leaf but does not stick. In the same way, actions can happen through you without staining your heart when you remain detached and centered in higher purpose.
Practically, this means purity of intention matters more than escaping activity. Right action done with surrender keeps your conscience clear and frees you from guilt and inner turmoil.
Life Application
- Before starting a task, quietly dedicate it to a higher purpose (God, service, or the common good) to shift focus away from personal gain.
- Do your work fully and honestly, then let go of the results—remind yourself that outcomes are not entirely under your control.
- When praised or blamed, pause and return to your intention; this helps prevent ego-driven decisions and keeps your heart calm.
Reflection Question
Am I acting from duty and service, or from a desire for reward and recognition?