Bhagavad Gita BG 2.48
Chapter 2, Verse 48 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय । सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते ॥ ४८ ॥
yoga-sthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṃ tyaktvā dhanañjaya siddhyasiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā samatvaṃ yoga ucyate
Meaning
Be steadfast in yoga, O Arjuna. Perform your duty and abandon all attachment to success or failure. Such evenness of mind is called yoga.
Understanding
The definition of Yoga crystallised in one verse: 'samatvaṃ yoga ucyate' — equanimity is called yoga. 'Yoga-sthaḥ kuru karmāṇi' — perform actions while established in yoga (inner equanimity). 'Saṅgaṃ tyaktvā' — abandoning attachment. 'Siddhy-asiddhyoḥ samaḥ' — equal in success (siddhi) and failure (asiddhi). This is the practical teaching: act fully, commit completely — but remain inwardly unattached to whether you succeed or fail. This inner freedom is Yoga.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| योगस्थः | yoga-sthaḥ | established in yoga / steadfast in yoga |
| कर्माणि | karmāṇi | actions / duties |
| सङ्गम् त्यक्त्वा | saṅgam tyaktvā | abandoning attachment |
| सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः | siddhyasiddhyoḥ | in success and failure |
| समः | samaḥ | equal / even-minded / same |
| समत्वम् | samatvam | equanimity / evenness of mind |
| योग उच्यते | yoga ucyate | is called yoga |
| कुरु | kuru | perform / do (imperative) |
| धनञ्जय | dhanañjaya | O Dhananjaya — Arjuna (winner of wealth) |
| भूत्वा | bhūtvā | having become / being (equanimous in both) |