In Bhagavad Gita 18.49, Krishna says one whose intellect is unattached everywhere, who has mastered himself and is free from desire, attains through renunciation the supreme perfection of freedom from action.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
असक्तबुद्धिः सर्वत्र
जितात्मा विगतस्पृहः
नैष्कर्म्यसिद्धिं परमां
संन्यासेनाधिगच्छति ॥ १८-४९ ॥
asaktabuddhiḥ sarvatra
jitātmā vigataspṛhaḥ
naiṣkarmyasiddhiṃ paramāṃ
saṃnyāsenādhigacchati
English transliteration asaktabuddhih sarvatra
jitaatmaa vigatasprihah
naishkarmyasiddhim paramaam
samnyaasenaadhigachchhati ॥ 18.49 ॥
Translation / Meaning
One whose intellect is unattached everywhere, who has conquered the self and is free from desires, attains through renunciation the supreme perfection of freedom from action.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| असक्तबुद्धिः asaktabuddhiḥ | whose intellect is unattached asakta (unattached) + buddhiḥ (intellect) |
| सर्वत्र sarvatra | everywhere |
| जितात्मा jitātmā | who has conquered the self jita (conquered) + ātmā (self) |
| विगतस्पृहः vigataspṛhaḥ | free from desires vigata (gone) + spṛhaḥ (desires) |
| नैष्कर्म्यसिद्धिम् naiṣkarmyasiddhim | perfection of freedom from action naiṣkarmya (freedom from action) + siddhim (perfection) |
| परमाम् paramām | supreme |
| संन्यासेन saṃnyāsena | through renunciation |
| अधिगच्छति adhigacchati | attains |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–sak–ta–bud–dhiḥ sar–vat–ra 8 syllables a-sak-ta-bud-dhih sar-vat-ra
- ji–tāt–mā vi–ga–tas–pṛ–haḥ | 8 syllables ji-taat-maa vi-ga-tas-pri-hah
- naiṣ–kar–mya–sid–dhiṃ pa–ra–māṃ 8 syllables naish-kar-mya-sid-dhim pa-ra-maam
- saṃn–yā–se–nā–dhi–gac–cha–ti || 18-49 8 syllables samn-yaa-se-naa-dhi-gach-chha-ti
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 18 Verse 49
Context
Krishna describes the path to the supreme perfection (18.49–18.53).
Meaning
The goal is naiṣkarmya-siddhi, the perfection of freedom from the bondage of action, reached through true saṃnyāsa. It belongs to one whose buddhi is unattached everywhere, who has mastered the self, and whose desires are gone. Action continues, but it no longer binds.
Naiṣkarmya does not mean doing nothing; it means action without the sense of doership and attachment.
In Practice
Act today without inner clinging, so that the action leaves no residue in your mind.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Liberation and Renunciation). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.