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Chapter 5 · Action in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness · 29 verses

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Duty & actionChapter 5 · Action in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness
5.95.11

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 5.10

Action without contamination

ब्रह्मण्याधाय कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा करोति य: ।

लिप्यते न स पापेन पद्मपत्रमिवाम्भसा ॥ १० ॥

brahmaṇy ādhāya karmāṇi

saṅgaṁ tyaktvā karoti yaḥ

lipyate na sa pāpena

padma-patram ivāmbhasā

Translation

One who performs his duty without attachment, surrendering the results unto the Supreme Lord, is unaffected by sinful action, as the lotus leaf is untouched by water.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

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

Working Without Attachment

  1. 1One who does their duty without attachment and offers the results to the Supreme Lord is untouched by sin, like a lotus leaf by water.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa, including our body, which should be used in His service.
  3. 3Do your duty as service to Kṛṣṇa, offering Him the results rather than becoming attached to them.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 5, Action in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness: detached action performed in devotion.

What it teaches

Study note

The lotus-leaf metaphor illustrates detached devotion.

How it feels

Interpretive

Freedom amid activity

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Offered action

One acting without attachment is compared to a lotus leaf.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Can I remain engaged without letting praise or blame own my mind?

Practice

Perform one difficult duty without rehearsing how you will be judged.

4

The story behind it

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

All stories for chapter 5 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 2.47Responsibility without ownership of outcomesBG 3.19Exemplary action and leadership by exampleBG 3.30Offer every action to Krishna

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

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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.