Brahmany adhaya karmani sangam tyaktva karoti yah, lipyate na sa papena padma-patram ivambhasa
One who performs their duty without attachment, surrendering the results to the Supreme, is unaffected by sinful action, as the lotus leaf is untouched by water.
- •Detached action purifies the soul
- •Like a lotus in water, be in the world but not of it
- •Surrender leads to freedom
Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam sharanam vraja, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo mokshayishyami ma shuchah
Abandon all varieties of dharmas and simply surrender unto Me alone. I shall liberate you from all sinful reactions; do not fear.
- •Ultimate teaching: complete surrender
- •Divine grace liberates from all karma
- •Let go of fear and trust completely
Vihaya kaman yah sarvan pumams carati nihsprhah, nirmamo nirahankarah sa shantim adhigacchati
That person who gives up all material desires and lives free from a sense of possessiveness, proprietorship, and egotism, attains perfect peace.
- •Renounce attachment to desires
- •Let go of ego and ownership
- •True peace comes from detachment
Vita-raga-bhaya-krodha man-maya mam upashritah, bahavo jnana-tapasa puta mad-bhavam agatah
Freed from attachment, fear, and anger, fully absorbed in Me and taking refuge in Me, many persons in the past became purified by knowledge and austerity and attained My divine love.
- •Freedom from negative emotions
- •Purification through knowledge
- •Divine love is attainable
Yuktah karma-phalam tyaktva shantim apnoti naishthikim, ayuktah kama-karena phale sakto nibadhyate
The steadily devoted soul attains unadulterated peace by renouncing the fruits of action, whereas the unsteady soul is bound by desire for rewards.
- •Peace comes from renouncing outcomes
- •Attachment to results creates bondage
- •Steady practice leads to liberation
Anapekṣhaḥ śhuchir dakṣha udāsīno gata-vyathaḥ, sarvārambha-parityāgī yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ
Free from wants, pure, expert, without cares, untroubled, and renouncing all undertakings—such devotees are very dear to Me.
- •Freedom from desires and worries
- •Purity and expertise combined
- •Let go of personal agendas
Sattvam rajas tama iti gunah prakriti-sambhavah, nibadhnanti maha-baho dehe dehinam avyayam
The three gunas—sattva (goodness), rajas (passion), and tamas (ignorance)—born of material nature, bind the eternal soul to the body.
- •Three modes govern material existence
- •Even the soul becomes bound by qualities
- •Understanding the gunas leads to freedom
Gunan etan atitya trin dehi deha-samudbhavan, janma-mrityu-jara-duhkhair vimukto 'mritam ashnute
When the embodied being transcends these three gunas associated with the body, they are freed from birth, death, old age, and suffering, and attains immortality.
- •Transcending the gunas brings liberation
- •Freedom from the cycle of birth and death
- •Immortality through transcendence
Asakta-buddhih sarvatra jitatma vigata-sprihah, naishkarmya-siddhim paramam sannyasenadhigacchati
Those whose intellect is unattached everywhere, who have mastered the self and are free from desires, attain through renunciation the supreme state of freedom from action.
- •Complete detachment from outcomes
- •Self-mastery and desirelessness
- •Ultimate freedom through renunciation
Yajna-arthat karmano 'nyatra loko 'yam karma-bandhanah, tad-artham karma kaunteya mukta-sangah samachara
Work must be done as a sacrifice to the Supreme; otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform your duties for His satisfaction, and you will be free from bondage.
- •Dedicate all work to the divine
- •Work without dedication creates bondage
- •Freedom through sacred action
Tam vidyad duhkha-samyoga-viyogam yoga-samjnitam, sa nishchayena yoktavyo yogo 'nirviinna-chetasa
The state of freedom from all miseries is known as yoga. This yoga should be practiced with determination and an undepressed mind.
- •Yoga means freedom from suffering
- •Practice requires determination
- •Maintain positive mindset
Na rūpam asyeha tathopalabhyate nānto na chādir na cha sampratiṣhṭhā, aśhvattham enaṁ su-virūḍha-mūlam asaṅga-śhastreṇa dṛiḍhena chhittvā
The real form of this tree cannot be perceived in this world, nor its beginning, end, or existence. Cut down this firmly rooted tree with the weapon of detachment.
- •Material world is illusory
- •Detachment is the weapon for freedom
- •Must sever attachment to maya
Nirmāna-mohā jita-saṅga-doṣhā adhyātma-nityā vinivṛitta-kāmāḥ, dvandvair vimuktāḥ sukha-duḥkha-sanjñair gachchhanty amūḍhāḥ padam avyayaṁ tat
Those free from pride and illusion, victorious over attachment, constantly dwelling in the self, with desires completely stilled, liberated from the dualities of pleasure and pain—the undeluded reach that eternal abode.
- •Freedom from pride and illusion
- •Victory over attachment
- •Liberation from dualities
Etair vimuktaḥ kaunteya tamo-dvārais tribhir naraḥ, ācharaty ātmanaḥ śhreyas tato yāti parāṁ gatim
Liberated from these three gates to darkness, O son of Kunti, a person does what is best for the soul and thus attains the supreme goal.
- •Liberation from lust, anger, greed
- •Then one can act for soul's welfare
- •Supreme goal becomes attainable