Chapter 5 Verse 6
Karm Sanyās Yog
संन्यासस्तु महाबाहो दुःखमाप्तुमयोगतः। योगयुक्तो मुनिर्ब्रह्म नचिरेणाधिगच्छति।।5.6।।
sannyāsas tu mahā-bāho duḥkham āptum ayogataḥ yoga-yukto munir brahma na chireṇādhigachchhati
Word Meanings
| sanyāsaḥ | renunciation |
| tu | but |
| mahā-bāho | mighty-armed one |
| duḥkham | distress |
| āptum | attains |
| ayogataḥ | without karm yog |
| yoga-yuktaḥ | one who is adept in karm yog |
| muniḥ | a sage |
| brahma | Brahman |
| na chireṇa | quickly |
| adhigachchhati | goes |
Translation
But, O mighty-armed Arjuna, renunciation is hard to attain without Yoga; the sage who is in harmony with Yoga quickly goes to Brahman.
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
This verse says that giving up worldly things outwardly is hard to achieve without inner discipline. Simply abandoning duties or possessions does not by itself bring peace or spiritual freedom.
"Yoga" here means steady inner practice — right action, attention, and detachment. A person who lives with that balanced inner practice moves more quickly toward union with the Divine (Brahman) than one who only tries to renounce externally.
The spiritual point is: true renunciation is an inner shift, not just an external change. Combine daily practice and clear understanding with your work and responsibilities; letting go of attachment while acting leads to real freedom.
Life Application
- Build a simple daily practice (short meditation, mindful breathing, or a few minutes of reflection) to steady your mind before and after tasks.
- Do your duties fully but release the need to control outcomes — focus on effort, not results.
- Reduce wants and distractions step by step; start with one habit to let go of and notice how your inner freedom grows.
Reflection Question
Am I trying to leave things behind outwardly, or am I changing my inner attachment to them?