Bhagavad Gita 2.50 — Yoga Is Skill in Action
बुद्धियुक्तो जहातीह उभे सुकृतदुष्कृते।
तस्माद्योगाय युज्यस्व योगः कर्मसु कौशलम्॥ २.५०॥
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One endowed with wisdom casts off both good and bad deeds in this life itself. Therefore strive for yoga; yoga is skill in action.
Transliteration (IAST)
Word Separation
The Sanskrit verse is separated into individual words (Padched) for easier study.
Word Meanings
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| buddhiyuktaḥ | one endowed with wisdom, one with an even intellect |
| jahāti | casts off, gets rid of |
| iha | in this life, here |
| ubhe | both |
| sukṛitaduṣhkṛite | good deeds and bad deeds |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| tasmāt | therefore |
| yogāya | for yoga |
| yujyasva | strive, devote yourself |
| yogaḥ | yoga |
| karmasu | in actions |
| kauśhalam | skill, excellence |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| buddhiyuktaḥ | one endowed with wisdom, one with an even intellect | tasmāt | therefore |
| jahāti | casts off, gets rid of | yogāya | for yoga |
| iha | in this life, here | yujyasva | strive, devote yourself |
| ubhe | both | yogaḥ | yoga |
| sukṛitaduṣhkṛite | good deeds and bad deeds | karmasu | in actions |
| kauśhalam | skill, excellence | ||
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
In this verse Lord Krishna describes the freedom that comes to the person established in the yoga of understanding. Such a person casts off both good and bad deeds in this very life. Krishna then gives a short and much-quoted definition: yoga is skill in action. The verse shows that spiritual freedom and practical excellence go hand in hand.
Essence
Casting off both good and bad
Lord Krishna says buddhi-yukto jahātīha ubhe sukṛta-duṣkṛte. One who is united with understanding gives up both sukṛta, good deeds, and duṣkṛta, bad deeds, in this very life. This may sound surprising. Why should anyone abandon good deeds?
The meaning of 'casting off': The verse does not say that the wise person stops doing good. It says that they are no longer bound by the results of either type of action. Ordinarily, good actions bind a person through the pride of being the doer and the desire for reward. Bad actions bind through guilt and consequence. The person established in buddhi-yoga acts without clinging to results, so neither type of action ties them down in the same way.
Iha (here, in this life): Freedom from bondage is not postponed to some distant future. The shift in inner outlook begins now and can be experienced in this very life.
Yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam: yoga is skill in action
Krishna closes with a compact definition: yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam. The word kauśala means skill, expertise, or dexterity. It can be understood on two levels.
The skill of acting without bondage: There is a particular art in performing action without being entangled in its results. Just as a skilled swimmer moves through water without being dragged under, the yogi moves through action without being enslaved by it.
Excellence in the work itself: When the mind is free from anxiety about results, all its energy can be given to the task. Attention becomes sharper, and the quality of work naturally improves. Spiritual practice is therefore not opposed to competence. It supports it.
Message for Everyday Life (Excellence Without Anxiety)
Some people think that being detached from results will make them less effective. Krishna teaches the opposite.
Give full attention to the work: When we are not preoccupied with outcomes, we can concentrate more deeply on what is in front of us.
Treat your work as practice: Seeing each task as an exercise in skill and balance makes ordinary work a field of growth.
Casting off both good and bad
Lord Krishna says buddhi-yukto jahātīha ubhe sukṛta-duṣkṛte. One who is united with understanding gives up both sukṛta, good deeds, and duṣkṛta, bad deeds, in this very life. This may sound surprising. Why should anyone abandon good deeds?
The meaning of 'casting off': The verse does not say that the wise person stops doing good. It says that they are no longer bound by the results of either type of action. Ordinarily, good actions bind a person through the pride of being the doer and the desire for reward. Bad actions bind through guilt and consequence. The person established in buddhi-yoga acts without clinging to results, so neither type of action ties them down in the same way.
Iha (here, in this life): Freedom from bondage is not postponed to some distant future. The shift in inner outlook begins now and can be experienced in this very life.
Yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam: yoga is skill in action
Krishna closes with a compact definition: yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam. The word kauśala means skill, expertise, or dexterity. It can be understood on two levels.
The skill of acting without bondage: There is a particular art in performing action without being entangled in its results. Just as a skilled swimmer moves through water without being dragged under, the yogi moves through action without being enslaved by it.
Excellence in the work itself: When the mind is free from anxiety about results, all its energy can be given to the task. Attention becomes sharper, and the quality of work naturally improves. Spiritual practice is therefore not opposed to competence. It supports it.
Message for Everyday Life (Excellence Without Anxiety)
Some people think that being detached from results will make them less effective. Krishna teaches the opposite.
Give full attention to the work: When we are not preoccupied with outcomes, we can concentrate more deeply on what is in front of us.
Treat your work as practice: Seeing each task as an exercise in skill and balance makes ordinary work a field of growth.
Next Topic
Krishna has explained that yoga is skill in action and that the yogi is not bound by good or bad results. He now describes the final destination of such wise people. In the next verse He says that those who give up the fruits of their actions are freed from the bondage of birth and reach a state beyond all affliction.
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
True skill is acting well without being tied to the outcome.
You can act fully and stay free.
Pride and guilt are two sides of the same attachment.
Excellence flows from a calm mind.
Don't postpone freedom to another time.
Make your work your practice.
Yoga is done in the middle of the day's work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'kauśhala' (skill) mean in 'yogaḥ karmasu kauśhalam'?
What does 'sukṛita' (good deeds) and 'duṣhkṛita' (bad deeds) mean?
How can a wise person 'cast off' both?
Why does Krishna say 'iha' (in this life)?
Is 'yoga' (union, discipline) in this verse only about meditation?
Explore related topics
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