In Bhagavad Gita 5.10, Krishna says that one who acts, offering all actions to Brahman and abandoning attachment, is untouched by sin, as a lotus leaf is untouched by water.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
ब्रह्मण्याधाय कर्माणि
सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा करोति यः
लिप्यते न स पापेन
पद्मपत्रमिवाम्भसा ॥ ५-१० ॥
brahmaṇyādhāya karmāṇi
saṅgaṃ tyaktvā karoti yaḥ
lipyate na sa pāpena
padmapatramivāmbhasā
English transliteration brahmanyaadhaaya karmaani
sangam tyaktvaa karoti yah
lipyate na sa paapena
padmapatramivaambhasaa ॥ 5.10 ॥
Translation / Meaning
One who performs actions, offering them to Brahman and abandoning attachment, is not touched by sin, just as a lotus leaf is not wetted by water.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ब्रह्मणि brahmaṇi | in Brahman |
| आधाय ādhāya | offering, placing |
| कर्माणि karmāṇi | actions |
| सङ्गम् saṅgam | attachment |
| त्यक्त्वा tyaktvā | abandoning |
| करोति karoti | acts |
| यः yaḥ | who |
| लिप्यते lipyate | is touched |
| न na | not |
| सः saḥ | he |
| पापेन pāpena | by sin |
| पद्मपत्रम् padmapatram | a lotus leaf padma (lotus) + patram (leaf) |
| इव iva | like |
| अम्भसा ambhasā | by water |
Word-wise Chanting
- brah–maṇ–yā–dhā–ya kar–mā–ṇi 8 syllables brah-man-yaa-dhaa-ya kar-maa-ni
- saṅ–gaṃ tyak–tvā ka–ro–ti yaḥ | 8 syllables san-gam tyak-tvaa ka-ro-ti yah
- lip–ya–te na sa pā–pe–na 8 syllables lip-ya-te na sa paa-pe-na
- pad–ma–pat–ra–mi–vām–bha–sā || 5-10 8 syllables pad-ma-pat-ra-mi-vaam-bha-saa
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 5 Verse 10
Context
Krishna offers one of the Gita’s most beloved images for action without attachment.
Meaning
The lotus grows in water and mud, yet its leaves remain dry and clean; water simply rolls off. The karma yogi lives fully in the world, acting in the midst of its demands, yet remains untouched by sin. The secret is twofold: offering actions to Brahman and giving up attachment.
The lotus is a symbol of spiritual life throughout Indian tradition. It teaches that we do not need to leave the world to be pure. Rooted in the mud of ordinary life, we can still rise and blossom, untouched by its stains.
In Practice
Picture yourself as a lotus leaf today when faced with negativity: let it roll off you without sticking, while you keep doing your work.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 5: Karma Sannyasa Yoga (The Yoga of 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.