Bhagavad Gita 2.51 — The Wise Renounce Fruits of Action and Reach the State Free from Suffering
कर्मजं बुद्धियुक्ता हि फलं त्यक्त्वा मनीषिणः।
जन्मबन्धविनिर्मुक्ताः पदं गच्छन्त्यनामयम्॥ २.५१॥
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The wise, endowed with wisdom, renouncing the fruits born of action and freed from the bondage of birth, attain the state that is free from all suffering.
Transliteration (IAST)
Word Separation
The Sanskrit verse is separated into individual words (Padched) for easier study.
Word Meanings
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| karmajam | born of action |
| buddhiyuktāḥ | endowed with wisdom, with an even intellect |
| hi | indeed |
| phalam | fruit, result |
| tyaktvā | having renounced |
| manīṣhiṇaḥ | the wise, thoughtful persons |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| janmabandhavinirmuktāḥ | completely freed from the bondage of birth |
| padam | state, abode |
| gachchhanti | reach, attain |
| anāmayam | free from suffering, free from all affliction |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| karmajam | born of action | janmabandhavinirmuktāḥ | completely freed from the bondage of birth |
| buddhiyuktāḥ | endowed with wisdom, with an even intellect | padam | state, abode |
| hi | indeed | gachchhanti | reach, attain |
| phalam | fruit, result | anāmayam | free from suffering, free from all affliction |
| tyaktvā | having renounced | ||
| manīṣhiṇaḥ | the wise, thoughtful persons | ||
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
In this verse Lord Krishna reveals the highest outcome of Karma Yoga. The wise who are united with understanding give up the fruits of their actions, become free from the bondage of birth, and reach a state free from all affliction. After all the practical teaching on action, Krishna now points to the liberation that it leads to.
Essence
The wise and their way of acting
Lord Krishna says karma-jam phalam tyaktvā manīṣiṇaḥ. The wise, manīṣiṇaḥ, abandon the fruit born of action. The word manīṣin means one who has mastery over the mind, a thoughtful and discerning person. Such people are marked by their relationship to their own mind rather than by their outward achievements.
Buddhi-yuktāḥ (united with understanding): Their giving up of fruits is not reluctant or forced. It flows naturally from a steady understanding that results are not in their hands and that clinging to them is the source of bondage.
Karma-jam phalam (the fruit born of action): Every action produces a result, and this verse does not deny that. What the wise abandon is the claim to those results, the sense of 'this is mine and I must have it'. They continue to act, but they offer the results and are not bound to them.
Freedom from the bondage of birth
Janma-bandha-vinirmuktāḥ (completely freed from the bondage of birth): In the Gita's vision, the repeated cycle of birth and death is driven by desire and attachment to results. As long as we act for personal gain, new karma is generated that requires new experiences, and the cycle continues. When the root is cut, the bondage falls away.
Padam anāmayam (the state free from affliction): The word anāmaya means free from disease, suffering, or affliction. It describes a state of complete well-being and peace. It is the same condition that Krishna called amṛtatva, immortality, in verse 15. The progress of the teaching is clear: equanimity leads to freedom, and freedom is a state beyond suffering.
Message for Everyday Life (Freedom While Living in the World)
This verse suggests that the greatest freedom is not escape from responsibilities but release from the compulsive grip of results.
Act fully, release the outcome: Doing our best and then letting go allows us to move on without carrying the burden of past results.
Look beyond temporary satisfactions: The aim of life is a lasting peace that does not depend on fluctuating conditions.
The wise and their way of acting
Lord Krishna says karma-jam phalam tyaktvā manīṣiṇaḥ. The wise, manīṣiṇaḥ, abandon the fruit born of action. The word manīṣin means one who has mastery over the mind, a thoughtful and discerning person. Such people are marked by their relationship to their own mind rather than by their outward achievements.
Buddhi-yuktāḥ (united with understanding): Their giving up of fruits is not reluctant or forced. It flows naturally from a steady understanding that results are not in their hands and that clinging to them is the source of bondage.
Karma-jam phalam (the fruit born of action): Every action produces a result, and this verse does not deny that. What the wise abandon is the claim to those results, the sense of 'this is mine and I must have it'. They continue to act, but they offer the results and are not bound to them.
Freedom from the bondage of birth
Janma-bandha-vinirmuktāḥ (completely freed from the bondage of birth): In the Gita's vision, the repeated cycle of birth and death is driven by desire and attachment to results. As long as we act for personal gain, new karma is generated that requires new experiences, and the cycle continues. When the root is cut, the bondage falls away.
Padam anāmayam (the state free from affliction): The word anāmaya means free from disease, suffering, or affliction. It describes a state of complete well-being and peace. It is the same condition that Krishna called amṛtatva, immortality, in verse 15. The progress of the teaching is clear: equanimity leads to freedom, and freedom is a state beyond suffering.
Message for Everyday Life (Freedom While Living in the World)
This verse suggests that the greatest freedom is not escape from responsibilities but release from the compulsive grip of results.
Act fully, release the outcome: Doing our best and then letting go allows us to move on without carrying the burden of past results.
Look beyond temporary satisfactions: The aim of life is a lasting peace that does not depend on fluctuating conditions.
Next Topic
Krishna has revealed that those who act with understanding and give up the fruits reach a state free from suffering. He now explains how the inner transformation takes place. In the next verse He says that when Arjuna's intellect crosses beyond the thicket of delusion, he will become indifferent to what has been heard and what is yet to be heard.
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
Let go of the fruit and keep the freedom.
The wise work and release.
The deepest peace has no conditions.
Attachment ties us to the wheel; wisdom steps off.
Much suffering is only clinging in disguise.
Work is the path, not the prison.
A state beyond suffering is possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the 'manīṣhin' (wise, thoughtful persons)?
What does 'karmaja phala' (fruit born of action) mean?
What is 'janmabandha' (bondage of birth)?
What does 'anāmaya pada' (state free from suffering) mean?
Does renouncing the fruits mean not caring about results?
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