In Bhagavad Gita 2.51, Krishna says that the wise, united with wisdom, give up the fruits of action, are freed from the bondage of birth, and reach the state beyond all sorrow.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
कर्मजं बुद्धियुक्ता हि
फलं त्यक्त्वा मनीषिणः
जन्मबन्धविनिर्मुक्ताः
पदं गच्छन्त्यनामयम् ॥ २-५१ ॥
karmajaṃ buddhiyuktā hi
phalaṃ tyaktvā manīṣiṇaḥ
janmabandhavinirmuktāḥ
padaṃ gacchantyanāmayam
English transliteration karmajam buddhiyuktaa hi
phalam tyaktvaa maneeshinah
janmabandhavinirmuktaah
padam gachchhantyanaamayam ॥ 2.51 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The wise, endowed with wisdom, give up the fruits born of action; freed from the bondage of birth, they attain the state that is beyond all suffering.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| कर्मजम् karmajam | born of action karma (action) + jam (born) |
| बुद्धियुक्ताः buddhiyuktāḥ | endowed with wisdom |
| हि hi | indeed |
| फलम् phalam | fruit |
| त्यक्त्वा tyaktvā | giving up |
| मनीषिणः manīṣiṇaḥ | the wise |
| जन्मबन्धविनिर्मुक्ताः janmabandhavinirmuktāḥ | freed from the bondage of birth janma (birth) + bandha (bondage) + vinirmuktāḥ (freed) |
| पदम् padam | the state |
| गच्छन्ति gacchanti | attain |
| अनामयम् anāmayam | free from suffering |
Word-wise Chanting
- kar–ma–jaṃ bud–dhi–yuk–tā hi 8 syllables kar-ma-jam bud-dhi-yuk-taa hi
- pha–laṃ tyak–tvā ma–nī–ṣi–ṇaḥ | 8 syllables pha-lam tyak-tvaa ma-nee-shi-nah
- jan–ma–ban–dha–vi–nir–muk–tāḥ 8 syllables jan-ma-ban-dha-vi-nir-muk-taah
- pa–daṃ gac–chan–tya–nā–ma–yam || 2-51 8 syllables pa-dam gach-chhan-tya-naa-ma-yam
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 51
Context
Krishna describes the final fruit of the yoga of wisdom taught in 2.47–2.50.
Meaning
The wise do not stop acting; they stop claiming the fruits of action. This inner renunciation frees them from janma-bandha, the bondage that leads to repeated birth. They reach the anāmaya pada, the state free from all ills, which is liberation itself.
The teaching is remarkable: liberation is attained not by escaping action but by changing our relationship with it. The same work that binds one person liberates another, depending on the attitude with which it is done. Freedom is found in the middle of life, not apart from it.
In Practice
Take one area of your life where you feel bound, and ask what “fruit” you are clinging to there. Practise letting that fruit go.
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.