Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5, Verse 11

Chapter 5 – Karma Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

कायेन मनसा बुद्ध्या केवलैरिन्द्रियैरपि ।
योगिनः कर्म कुर्वन्ति सङ्गं त्यक्त्वात्मशुद्धये ॥

Transliteration

kāyena manasā buddhyā kevalairindriyairapi .
yoginaḥ karma kurvanti saṅgaṃ tyaktvātmaśuddhaye ॥

Meaning

The Yogis, abandoning attachment, perform action with the body, mind, intellect and even the mere senses, only for the purification of the self.

Word meanings

योगिनः – the Yogis
कर्म – action
कुर्वन्ति – perform
कायेन – with the body
मनसा – with the mind
बुद्ध्या – with the intellect
केवलैः – merely, free from the sense of mine
इन्द्रियैः – with the senses
अपि – even
सङ्गम् – attachment
त्यक्त्वा – abandoning
आत्मशुद्धये – for self-purification

Anvaya (word order)

योगिनः सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा आत्मशुद्धये कायेन मनसा बुद्ध्या केवलैः इन्द्रियैः अपि कर्म कुर्वन्ति ।

Explanation

The previous verse described how the Karma Yogi acts; now its purpose is given — ‘atma-shuddhaye’, for the purification of one's own inner being. The Karma Yogi's aim is not wealth, fame or heaven but to make the mind clear so that the light of Self-knowledge may settle.

Four instruments are listed: body, mind, intellect and senses. This shows that Karma Yoga is not mere physical labour; thought by the mind, resolve by the intellect, and conduct through speech and senses are all action. In ‘kevalair indriyaih’, ‘kevala’ means free from the sense of ‘mine’ — that is, the feeling that these senses are not my private property but the Lord's instruments. Shankara explains ‘kevala’ as devoid of the pride ‘mine’.

According to Ramanuja the yogis perform, with all these, action in the form of worship of God only for self-purification and not out of desire for results. Thus action ceases to be a binding thing and becomes a means of cleansing.

The verse gives action an inner purpose: every task can also be an occasion to wash away some inner dirt, if we do it without attachment.

Context

After the lotus-leaf simile in 5.10, verse 5.11 states the purpose of the Karma Yogi's action. In 5.12 the fruit — peace — will be contrasted with the bondage of the attached person.

Life lesson

Instead of seeking only gain or recognition from your work, ask also: is this action making me inwardly better and cleaner? Make work an instrument of self-growth.

Key terms

Atma-shuddhi: purification of the inner being
Kevala (indriya): free from possessiveness and attachment
Yogi: a seeker established in Karma Yoga