Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6 Verse 1 (6.1)

Reflective Prompt:

Suppose you decide to meditate all day and stop helping when people need you. Or suppose you sit with closed eyes but keep thinking about games, snacks, and movies. Which one is real yoga?

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6 Verse 1 (6.1)

श्रीभगवानुवाच

अनाश्रितः कर्मफलं कार्यं कर्म करोति यः । स संन्यासी च योगी च न निरग्निर्न चाक्रियः | | ६-१ | |

śhrī bhagavān uvācha anāśhritaḥ karmaphalaṁ kāryaṁ karma karoti yaḥ sa saṁnyāsī cha yogī cha na niragnirna chākriyaḥ

Word-by-word guide:

Line 0:

श्री (shri) — श्री(honorific)
भगवान् (bhagavan) — भगवान(the Blessed Lord)
उवाच (uvacha) — कहा(said)

Line 1:

Anashritah not dependent
karma action
phalam the fruit of action
karyam that which ought to be done (duty)
karma action
karoti performs
yah who

Line 2:

sah he
sannyasi a sannyasi (renouncer)
cha also
yogi a yogi
cha also
na nor
nir points to one without the sacred fire (duties)
agnih points to one without the sacred fire (duties)
na nor
c joined in chākriyaḥ
akriyah one without action.

English: Krishna said: A true yogi does their duty without depending on the result. A person does not become spiritual by avoiding action or only doing rituals.

💡 Commentary Note

Real renunciation is not about running away from actions or merely performing external rituals. It is an internal state where duties are performed selflessly, without any craving for personal reward.

Learnings from Shloka 1:

Selfless Duty:: Perform your daily tasks because they are your responsibility, not just for the reward.
Inner Renunciation:: Understand that true spirituality lies in letting go of attachment to outcomes, not in giving up work.

Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz

Practice this shloka vocabulary

Match Sanskrit words from shloka 6.1 with their Hindi and English meanings.

Practice vocabulary

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