Bhagavad Gita BG 2.39
Chapter 2, Verse 39 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
एषा तेऽभिहिता साङ्ख्ये बुद्धिर्योगे त्विमां शृणु । बुद्ध्या युक्तो यया पार्थ कर्मबन्धं प्रहास्यसि ॥ ३९ ॥
eṣā te 'bhihitā sāṅkhye buddhir yoge tv imāṃ śṛṇu buddhyā yukto yayā pārtha karma-bandhaṃ prahāsyasi
Meaning
Thus far I have described this knowledge to you analytically (Sankhya). Now listen as I explain it in terms of working without fruitive results (Yoga). O Partha, when you act by such intelligence, you can free yourself from the bondage of works.
Understanding
A pivotal transition. Krishna has taught 'Sankhya' — the analytical knowledge of the soul's nature. Now he introduces 'Yoga' — specifically Buddhi Yoga (yoga of intelligence/discrimination). The key concept: 'karma-bandha' — the bondage of karmic results. When you act with the intelligence that understands the soul's nature and acts without ego-driven attachment to results, you break free from karma's binding force. This is the beginning of the Gita's practical teaching.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| साङ्ख्ये | sāṅkhye | in Sankhya / analytically / knowledge of the soul |
| बुद्धिः | buddhiḥ | intelligence / wisdom / discriminating faculty |
| योगे | yoge | in Yoga / in terms of practice |
| बुद्ध्या युक्तः | buddhyā yuktaḥ | endowed with / yoked to this intelligence |
| कर्मबन्धम् | karma-bandham | the bondage of karma / the bondage of works |
| प्रहास्यसि | prahāsyasi | you shall abandon / you shall be freed from |
| एषा | eṣā | this (knowledge / wisdom) |
| ते | te | to you / for you |
| अभिहिता | abhihitā | has been declared / told / explained |
| तु | tu | now / but (transition to new topic) |
| इमाम् | imām | this (yoga / teaching) |
| शृणु | śṛṇu | listen / hear (imperative) |
| यया | yayā | by which / with which (intelligence) |
| पार्थ | pārtha | O Partha (Arjuna) |