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← Chapter 5: The Yoga of Renunciation of Action

Verse 5.11

Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit

कायेन मनसा बुद्ध्या केवलैरिन्द्रियैरपि। योगिनः कर्म कुर्वन्ति सङ्गं त्यक्त्वात्मशुद्धये।।

Transliteration (IAST)

kāyena manasā buddhyā kevalair indriyair api। yoginaḥ karma kurvanti saṅgaṁ tyaktvātma-śuddhaye।।

Word-by-Word Meanings

कायेन-with the body
मनसा-with the mind
बुद्ध्या-with the intellect
इन्द्रियैः-with the senses
सङ्गम्-attachment
आत्मशुद्धये-for self-purification

Translation

Yogis perform actions with the body, mind, intellect, and even the senses alone, abandoning attachment, for the purification of the self.

Commentary

The karma yogi uses all instruments of action - body, mind, intellect, and senses - but without personal attachment. The purpose of such action is ātma-śuddhi, the purification of the inner being, which prepares the ground for Self-knowledge.

Themes

karmayogaatman