Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 50

Chapter 2 – Sankhya Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

बुद्धियुक्तो जहातीह उभे सुकृतदुष्कृते ।
तस्माद्योगाय युज्यस्व योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् ॥

Transliteration

buddhiyukto jahātīha ubhe sukṛtaduṣkṛte .
tasmādyogāya yujyasva yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam ॥

Meaning

One endowed with this equanimous understanding casts off both good and evil deeds even here in this life. Therefore devote yourself to yoga; yoga is skill in action.

Word meanings

बुद्धियुक्तः – endowed with equanimous understanding
जहाति – casts off
इह – here, in this life
उभे – both
सुकृत-दुष्कृते – good deeds and evil deeds, merit and sin
तस्मात् – therefore
योगाय – to yoga
युज्यस्व – devote yourself
योगः – yoga
कर्मसु – in actions
कौशलम् – skill, dexterity

Anvaya (word order)

बुद्धियुक्तः इह उभे सुकृतदुष्कृते जहाति । तस्मात् योगाय युज्यस्व; योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् ।

Explanation

This verse presents two of the Gita's most important ideas. First, the person of equanimous understanding is freed from both merit and sin. Second, ‘yogah karmasu kaushalam’ — yoga is skill in action. The second phrase is among the most celebrated definitions in the Gita.

Consider the first. We usually think of sin as bad and merit as good. But from the standpoint of liberation both are bonds — sin a chain of iron, merit a chain of gold. Even to enjoy the fruit of merit one must take birth. Krishna says that the one with equanimous understanding remains free of this double bondage even while acting, because his action lacks the sense ‘I am the doer’ and ‘I want the fruit’. Shankara explains that buddhi-yoga purifies the mind, from which knowledge arises, and knowledge burns up both merit and sin.

Now consider ‘yogah karmasu kaushalam’. ‘Kaushala’ means skill or dexterity. But here it means more than technical competence. Shankara gives a beautiful explanation: action by its nature binds, yet through equanimous understanding the very same action becomes a means of liberation — this is the ‘skill’. That is, acting so skilfully that the action does not bind, much as a wise physician turns even poison into medicine.

There is also a practical side to this definition. One who acts with full concentration and dedication, free from anxiety about results, naturally does excellent work. Worry, fear and greed scatter the mind; equanimity focuses it. Hence the yogi's work is the most skilful work.

‘Tasmad yogaya yujyasva’ — therefore devote yourself to yoga. In today's competitive world the verse offers a balanced vision: act with excellence, but free of attachment and stress. That is true mastery and true freedom.

Context

In 2.49 Krishna said desire-driven action is inferior to buddhi-yoga. Here He gives its fruit — freedom from merit and sin — and calls yoga skill in action. In the next verse (2.51) He says such wise ones, freed from the bondage of birth, reach the state beyond all sorrow.

Life lesson

Do your work with excellence, but keep it free of attachment and anxiety — that is real skill. Action done with equanimity does not bind; it liberates.

Key terms

Sukrita-dushkrita: good and evil deeds; merit and sin
Kaushala: skill; acting in such a way that action does not bind
Buddhi-yukta: one endowed with equanimous understanding