One who performs the required action without taking shelter in the fruit of action is a renunciate and a yogi. Not one who merely gives up fire, and not one who merely stops acting.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 6.1
Hindi · हिन्दी
श्रीभगवान् बोले कर्मफलका आश्रय न लेकर जो कर्तव्यकर्म करता है, वही संन्यासी तथा योगी है और केवल अग्निका त्याग करनेवाला संन्यासी नहीं होता तथा केवल क्रियाओंका त्याग करनेवाला योगी नहीं होता ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
श्रीभगवानुवाचthe divine saidअनाश्रितःnot taking refugeकर्मफलम्fruit of actionकार्यम्what must be doneकर्मactionकरोतिdoesयःwhoसःthat oneसंन्यासीrenunciateचandयोगीyogiचandनnotनिरग्निःwithout fireनnotचandअक्रियःone without action
Read literallythe divine said · not taking refuge · fruit of action · what must be done · action · does · who · that one · renunciate · and · yogi · and · not · without fire · not · and · one without action
Understanding the verse
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It shifts attention from outcome-hunting to clean, necessary action.
Real renunciation is not escaping action. It is doing what must be done without clinging to the result.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On the Kurukshetra field, Arjuna is frozen before battle. Krishna begins by redefining renunciation: not as abandoning action, but as acting without dependence on results. This verse sets the tone for the whole teaching on self-mastery.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You send the message, make the hard call, or finish the task late at night. The cleanest act is the one you can stand behind even if nobody rewards it.
The takeaway
“There is relief in knowing that sincerity matters more than control.”
Real renunciation is not escaping action. It is doing what must be done without clinging to the result.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 6.1?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Dhyana Yoga" (The Yoga of Meditation).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 6.1?
Verse 1 sits in Chapter 6 of the Bhagavad Gita — Dhyana Yoga, "The Yoga of Meditation". The chapter has 47 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 6.1 matter today?
You send the message, make the hard call, or finish the task late at night. The cleanest act is the one you can stand behind even if nobody rewards it.
It shifts attention from outcome-hunting to clean, necessary action.
What this verse means
Real renunciation is not escaping action. It is doing what must be done without clinging to the result.
Context & commentary
On the Kurukshetra field, Arjuna is frozen before battle. Krishna begins by redefining renunciation: not as abandoning action, but as acting without dependence on results. This verse sets the tone for the whole teaching on self-mastery.
Why this verse still matters
You send the message, make the hard call, or finish the task late at night. The cleanest act is the one you can stand behind even if nobody rewards it.
“There is relief in knowing that sincerity matters more than control.”
Explore related themes: renunciation (14 verses), sannyasa (12 verses), nishkama karma (12 verses)