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Chapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized · 72 verses

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Duty & actionChapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized
2.472.49

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 2.48

Work without attachment; steady intelligence

योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय ।

सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते ॥ ४८ ॥

yoga-sthaḥ kuru karmāṇi

saṅgaṁ tyaktvā dhanañ-jaya

siddhy-asiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā

samatvaṁ yoga ucyate

Translation

Perform your duty equipoised, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Acting in Real Yoga

  1. 1Do your duty with an even mind, without attachment to success or failure. This balance is called yoga.
  2. 2Yoga means controlling the senses and focusing the mind on the Supreme Lord. Following Kṛṣṇa’s instructions is real yoga.
  3. 3Serve Kṛṣṇa and do your duty to please Him, not yourself. The results are His concern.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 2, Contents of the Gītā Summarized: work without attachment; steady intelligence.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Act dutifully without attachment to fruits.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: karma, sva-dharma.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 2.48 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to duty & action?

Practice

Do one task today purely because it is right.

4

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 2 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 2.47Responsibility without ownership of outcomesBG 2.49Work without attachment; steady intelligenceBG 3.21Leadership by example

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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Ask about BG 2.48 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.