In Bhagavad Gita 2.48, Krishna tells Arjuna to act established in yoga, giving up attachment and remaining even in success and failure, for evenness of mind is called yoga.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि
सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा
समत्वं योग उच्यते ॥ २-४८ ॥
yogasthaḥ kuru karmāṇi
saṅgaṃ tyaktvā dhanañjaya
siddhyasiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā
samatvaṃ yoga ucyate
English transliteration yogasthah kuru karmaani
sangam tyaktvaa dhananjaya
siddhyasiddhyoh samo bhootvaa
samatvam yoga uchyate ॥ 2.48 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Established in yoga, perform your actions, O Dhananjaya, abandoning attachment and remaining even-minded in success and failure. This evenness of mind is called yoga.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| योगस्थः yogasthaḥ | established in yoga yoga (yoga) + sthaḥ (established) |
| कुरु kuru | perform |
| कर्माणि karmāṇi | actions |
| सङ्गम् saṅgam | attachment |
| त्यक्त्वा tyaktvā | abandoning |
| धनञ्जय dhanañjaya | O Dhanañjaya |
| सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः siddhyasiddhyoḥ | in success and failure siddhi (success) + asiddhi (failure) |
| समः samaḥ | even |
| भूत्वा bhūtvā | becoming |
| समत्वम् samatvam | evenness |
| योगः yogaḥ | yoga |
| उच्यते ucyate | is called |
Word-wise Chanting
- yo–gas–thaḥ ku–ru kar–mā–ṇi 8 syllables yo-gas-thah ku-ru kar-maa-ni
- saṅ–gaṃ tyak–tvā dha–nañ–ja–ya | 8 syllables san-gam tyak-tvaa dha-nan-ja-ya
- sid–dhya–sid–dhyoḥ sa–mo bhūt–vā 8 syllables sid-dhya-sid-dhyoh sa-mo bhoot-vaa
- sa–mat–vaṃ yo–ga uc–ya–te || 2-48 8 syllables sa-mat-vam yo-ga uch-ya-te
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 2 Verse 48
Context
Following the principle of 2.47, Krishna gives one of the Gita’s most important definitions of yoga.
Meaning
Yoga is defined here as samatva, evenness of mind. It is not a special posture or ritual but a way of acting: wholehearted engagement without attachment to the outcome. One works fully, yet whether the result is success or failure, the mind remains balanced. Such a person is yoga-stha, established in yoga.
This definition brings yoga into everyday life. Any work, from a great battle to washing dishes, becomes yoga when done with full attention and an even mind. The practice is simple to state and lifelong to master: give your best, then let the result be what it is.
In Practice
Choose one task today. Do it with full attention, and when it is finished, accept the result with an even mind, whatever it is.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge). 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.