Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5, Verse 12

Chapter 5 – Karma Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

युक्तः कर्मफलं त्यक्त्वा शान्तिमाप्नोति नैष्ठिकीम् ।
अयुक्तः कामकारेण फले सक्तो निबध्यते ॥

Transliteration

yuktaḥ karmaphalaṃ tyaktvā śāntimāpnoti naiṣṭhikīm .
ayuktaḥ kāmakāreṇa phale sakto nibadhyate ॥

Meaning

The steadfast one, renouncing the fruit of action, attains abiding peace; the unsteadfast one, impelled by desire and attached to the fruit, is bound.

Word meanings

युक्तः – the steadfast one
कर्मफलम् – the fruit of action
त्यक्त्वा – having renounced
नैष्ठिकीम् – abiding, born of steadfastness
शान्तिम् – peace
आप्नोति – attains
अयुक्तः – the unsteadfast one
कामकारेण – impelled by desire
फले – in the fruit
सक्तः – attached
निबध्यते – is bound

Anvaya (word order)

युक्तः कर्मफलं त्यक्त्वा नैष्ठिकीं शान्तिम् आप्नोति; अयुक्तः कामकारेण फले सक्तः निबध्यते ।

Explanation

This verse is a direct comparison of two kinds of doers, whose actions may look the same from outside. The only difference is in one thing: the mind's state toward the fruit. The ‘yukta’ person acts but leaves the fruit to God. The result is ‘naishthiki shanti’ — a peace that is not shaken by the ups and downs of circumstance, born of steadfastness.

The ‘ayukta’ person, on the other hand, is driven by desire. His every deed is for some craving. So he is bound by the fruit: success brings pride and fear of loss, failure brings sorrow. He has action but no peace.

According to Shankara, ‘naishthiki shanti’ is the supreme peace of liberation, attained step by step through purity of mind, knowledge and steadfastness in knowledge. Ramanuja calls it peace born of Self-realisation. Both agree that attachment to the fruit is the enemy of peace.

In life the verse offers a practical test: the value of our action lies in how steady it has kept our mind, not only in what it has fetched.

Context

Verse 5.11 stated the purpose of action as self-purification. Verse 5.12 shows its fruit as peace and contrasts it with the bondage of the attached. In 5.13 the description of the renunciate's state begins.

Life lesson

While you work, check how bound your mind is to the result. As worry about outcomes lessens, peace grows; what is in your hands is the effort, not the outcome.

Key terms

Naishthiki shanti: abiding peace born of steadfastness
Kamakara: conduct driven by desire
Ayukta: one not established in Yoga, unsteady