Verse 2.38
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
सुखदुःखे समे कृत्वा लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ। ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sukha-duḥkhe same kṛtvā lābhālābhau jayājayau tato yuddhāya yujyasva naivaṁ pāpam avāpsyasi
Word-by-Word Meanings
sukha-duḥkhe-pleasure and pain
same-equal
lābha-alābhau-gain and loss
jaya-ajayau-victory and defeat
yujyasva-engage
Translation
Treating alike pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat, engage in battle. Thus you shall not incur sin.
Commentary
This verse is a crucial bridge between Sankhya philosophy and Karma Yoga. Krishna introduces the principle of equanimity in action - performing duty without attachment to outcomes. This is the seed of the karma yoga teaching that will be fully developed in verses 47-51.
Themes
karmayogaduty