Verse 18.6
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
एतान्यपि तु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलानि च | कर्तव्यानीति मे पार्थ निश्चितं मतमुत्तमम् ||६||
Transliteration (IAST)
etāny api tu karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā phalāni ca | kartavyānīti me pārtha niścitaṁ matam uttamam ||6||
Word-by-Word Meanings
etāni-these
karmāṇi-actions
saṅgam-attachment
tyaktvā-having abandoned
phalāni-fruits/results
kartavyāni-must be performed
niścitam-definite
matam uttamam-highest opinion
Translation
But even these actions should be performed giving up attachment and the fruits - this is My definite and highest opinion, O Partha.
Commentary
Krishna states His supreme conclusion: perform all duties but without attachment to results. Shankaracharya considers this the essence of the Gita's teaching on action. Ramanuja notes that 'matam uttamam' (highest opinion) indicates this is Krishna's final word, superseding all other positions.
Themes
karmasurrendermoksha