Bhagavad Gita BG 18.49
Chapter 18, Verse 49 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
असक्तबुद्धिः सर्वत्र जितात्मा विगतस्पृहः । नैष्कर्म्यसिद्धिं परमां संन्यासेनाधिगच्छति ॥
asakta-buddhih sarvatra jita-atma vigata-sprhah naishkarmya-siddhim paramam sannyasenA 'dhigacchati
Meaning
One whose intellect is unattached everywhere, whose self is conquered, from whom desires have gone — through renunciation one attains the supreme perfection of freedom from action.
Understanding
The inner qualities that lead to naishkarmya-siddhi (the perfection of action-freedom): asakta-buddhih sarvatra (intellect unattached everywhere — not just to certain things but in all circumstances). Jita-atma (self-conquered — the inner senses and impulses mastered). Vigata-sprhah (from whom desires/cravings have departed). Sannyasena adhigacchati naishkarmya-siddhim paramam (through renunciation one attains the supreme siddhi of naishkarmya — freedom from action's binding power). Naishkarmya does not mean not acting; it means acting without karma binding — the state where action does not generate further karmic bondage because the actor has released identification with outcomes.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| असक्तबुद्धिः | asakta-buddhih | one whose intellect is unattached, with non-clinging intellect |
| जितात्मा | jita-atma | one whose self is conquered, self-mastered |
| विगतस्पृहः | vigata-sprhah | from whom cravings/desires have departed |
| नैष्कर्म्यसिद्धिम् | naishkarmya-siddhim | the perfection of freedom from action (naishkarmya = actionlessness-in-action) |
| परमाम् | paramam | supreme, highest |
| असक्त-बुद्धिः | asakta-buddhiḥ | with unattached intelligence |
| सर्वत्र | sarvatra | everywhere |
| जित-आत्मा | jita-ātmā | self-controlled |
| विगत-स्पृहः | vigata-spṛhaḥ | free from longing |
| नैष्कर्म्य-सिद्धिम् | naiṣkarmya-siddhim | perfection of inaction |
| संन्यासेन | sannyāsena | by renunciation |
| अधिगच्छति | adhigacchati | one attains |