Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 Verse 39 (2.39)
Reflective Prompt:
Imagine you studied very hard for an exam. You focused completely and did your best, but the score was lower than you hoped.
- ▪ Option 1: Get upset and feel that all the effort was wasted.
- ▪ Option 2: Say, "I did my best. I can learn and improve next time." What part is in your control: the effort, the result, or both?
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 Verse 39 (2.39)
एषा तेऽभिहिता साङ्ख्ये बुद्धिर्योगे त्विमां शृणु । बुद्ध्या युक्तो यया पार्थ कर्मबन्धं प्रहास्यसि | | २-३९ | |
eṣhā te’bhihitā sāṅkhye buddhiryoge tvimāṁ śhṛiṇu buddhyā yukto yayā pārtha karmabandhaṁ prahāsyasi
Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
- एश
(Esha)— तुम्हें(this wisdom has been explained to you in Sankhya) - ते
(te)— तुम्हें(this wisdom has been explained to you in Sankhya) - अइइत
(abhihita)— तुम्हें(this wisdom has been explained to you in Sankhya) - सए
(sankhye)— तुम्हें(this wisdom has been explained to you in Sankhya) - बुद्धिः
(buddhih)— योग(now hear this understanding in Yoga) - ओए
(yoge)— योग(now hear this understanding in Yoga) - तु
(tu)— परन्तु(but) - इमम्
(imam)— योग(now hear this understanding in Yoga) - शृणु
(shrinu)— योग(now hear this understanding in Yoga)
Line 2:
- उय
(buddhya)— बुद्धि(joined with this understanding) - युक्तः
(yuktah)— युक्त(joined with this understanding) - यः
(yah)— जो(who) - यः
(yah)— जो(who) - पार्थ
(Partha)— हे पार्थ(addresses Arjuna) - कम-बध
(karma-bandham)— कर्म(you will cast off bondage from action) - रहयइ
(prahasyasi)— कर्म(you will cast off bondage from action)
English: Krishna has taught the wisdom of Sankhya; now he begins the wisdom of Yoga, by which action no longer binds.
Learnings from Shloka 39:
- Theory to practice:: Spiritual knowledge (Gyan) must be put into action (Yoga) to be truly useful.
- Action without bondage:: Learning to act without being bound by the results keeps the mind free and peaceful.
Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz
Practice this shloka vocabularyMatch Sanskrit words from shloka 2.39 with their Hindi and English meanings.
Practice vocabulary
Krishna transitions from the theoretical wisdom of the soul (Sankhya) to the practical application of that wisdom in action (Yoga). This is the beginning of Karma Yoga, which frees the mind from bondage.