Bhagavad Gita BG 2.50
Chapter 2, Verse 50 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
बुद्धियुक्तो जहातीह उभे सुकृतदुष्कृते । तस्माद्योगाय युज्यस्व योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् ॥ ५० ॥
buddhi-yukto jahātīha ubhe sukṛta-duṣkṛte tasmād yogāya yujyasva yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam
Meaning
A man endowed with this yoga transcends both good and evil deeds in this very life. Therefore strive for yoga. Yoga is the skill in action.
Understanding
One of the Gita's most striking definitions: 'yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam' — yoga is skill in action. The Buddhi Yoga practitioner ('buddhi-yukta') transcends ('jahāti') both good (sukṛta) and evil (duṣkṛta) karmic results 'in this very life' (iha). This is remarkable: not after death, not in some future life, but now — through this skill of acting without attachment. Both good and bad karma are transcended because neither is being accumulated.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| बुद्धियुक्तः | buddhi-yuktaḥ | one endowed with this yoga / united with wisdom |
| जहाति | jahāti | transcends / abandons / goes beyond |
| सुकृतदुष्कृते | sukṛta-duṣkṛte | good deeds and evil deeds / pious and sinful actions (and their results) |
| युज्यस्व | yujyasva | strive / engage / apply yourself |
| कर्मसु कौशलम् | karmasu kauśalam | skill in action / expertise in works |
| इह | iha | here / in this very life |
| उभे | ubhe | both (good and evil deeds) |
| तस्मात् | tasmāt | therefore |
| योगाय | yogāya | for yoga / to practice yoga |