Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12, Verse 11

Chapter 12 – Bhakti Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

अथैतदप्यशक्तोऽसि कर्तुं मद्योगमाश्रितः ।
सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं ततः कुरु यतात्मवान् ॥

Transliteration

athaitadapyaśakto.asi kartuṃ madyogamāśritaḥ .
sarvakarmaphalatyāgaṃ tataḥ kuru yatātmavān ॥

Meaning

And if you are unable even to do this, then, taking refuge in My yoga and being self-controlled, renounce the fruit of all actions.

Word meanings

अथ – if
एतत् अपि – even this
कर्तुम् – to do
अशक्तः असि – you are unable
ततः – then
मद्योगम् आश्रितः – taking refuge in My yoga
यतात्मवान् – self-controlled
सर्वकर्मफलत्यागम् – renunciation of the fruit of all actions
कुरु – do

Anvaya (word order)

अथ एतत् अपि कर्तुम् अशक्तः असि, ततः मद्योगम् आश्रितः यतात्मवान् (सन्) सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं कुरु ।

Explanation

This is the last rung of the ladder. For one who cannot even act for the Lord, a way is still left: sarva-karma-phala-tyagam, renunciation of the fruit of all actions. The Lord does not forbid action here; action is to be done, but concern for result, claim and attachment are given up. This is the same thread as 2.47 in the second chapter: you have a right to action alone, never to its fruits.

Two conditions accompany this option: madyogam asritah and yatatmavan. The first means that even this renunciation should be done while taking refuge in the Lord, not merely by one's own strength. The second means the mind should be restrained so that attachment to fruit does not return. If desire for results is sitting in the mind, merely uttering renunciation outwardly is useless; real renunciation lies in letting go of the inner attachment.

Shankara says that one who cannot even act for the Lord should at least give up desire for the fruit of ordinary actions; this becomes a means of purifying the mind and leads one forward. According to Ramanuja one who cannot manage the devotional means is to rise gradually through desireless action.

Thus the whole ladder of practice is complete, and the Lord has made it plain that no human being is without hope: each can go forward from where he stands.

Context

Three means were given in 12.8-10. Here the fourth and last, renunciation of the fruit of action, appears. The next verse (12.12) gives the order of these means and compares them.

Life lesson

Practising action with full mind but without worry for the result reduces stress and anxiety. This is the most practical sadhana, which every person can do in his present circumstances.

Key terms

कर्मफलत्याग: doing the work but giving up attachment to its fruit
मद्योगाश्रय: taking refuge in the Lord while practising
यतात्मवान्: one who has gained control of self