श्री भगवानुवाचसंन्यासः कर्मयोगश्च निःश्रेयसकरावुभौ ।
तयोस्तु कर्मसंन्यासात्कर्मयोगो विशिष्यते ॥
तयोस्तु कर्मसंन्यासात्कर्मयोगो विशिष्यते ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
श्रीभगवान् बोले संन्यास सांख्ययोग और कर्मयोग दोनों ही कल्याण करनेवाले हैं । परन्तु उन दोनोंमें भी कर्मसंन्यास सांख्ययोग से कर्मयोग श्रेष्ठ है ॥
English
Renunciation and karma yoga both lead to the highest good, but karma yoga is better than renouncing action.
What this verse means
Both renunciation and karma yoga lead to the highest good, but Krishna says karma yoga is better than simply giving up action.
Context & commentary
Arjuna has asked which path is better: giving up action or acting rightly. Krishna answers in the middle of the battlefield, where the war has not yet begun, and says both help, but disciplined action without clinging is superior.
Why this verse still matters
You are tempted to quit the conversation, the project, or the relationship just to avoid the mess. Krishna says the cleaner move is not always to withdraw; sometimes it is to stay and act without grasping.
The takeaway
You do not have to escape life to grow. Doing your duty cleanly can be the higher way.
Word-by-word translation
संन्यासः (renunciation) / कर्मयोगः (karma yoga) / च (and) / निःश्रेयसकरौ (bringing the highest good) / उभौ (both) / तयोः (of the two) / तु (but) / कर्मसंन्यासात् (than renunciation of action) / कर्मयोगः (karma yoga) / विशिष्यते (is superior)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5: Karma Sanyasa Yoga — The Yoga of Renunciation, which contains 29 verses.
Explore related themes: nishkama (14 verses), renunciation (14 verses), sannyasa (12 verses)