In Bhagavad Gita 5.12, Krishna says the steadfast yogi, giving up the fruit of action, attains lasting peace; the unsteady, attached to fruit by desire, is bound.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
युक्तः कर्मफलं त्यक्त्वा
शान्तिमाप्नोति नैष्ठिकीम्
अयुक्तः कामकारेण
फले सक्तो निबध्यते ॥ ५-१२ ॥
yuktaḥ karmaphalaṃ tyaktvā
śāntimāpnoti naiṣṭhikīm
ayuktaḥ kāmakāreṇa
phale sakto nibadhyate
English transliteration yuktah karmaphalam tyaktvaa
shaantimaapnoti naishthikeem
ayuktah kaamakaarena
phale sakto nibadhyate ॥ 5.12 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The steadfast one, giving up the fruit of action, attains lasting peace. The unsteady one, attached to the fruit through desire, is bound.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| युक्तः yuktaḥ | the steadfast |
| कर्मफलम् karmaphalam | the fruit of action |
| त्यक्त्वा tyaktvā | giving up |
| शान्तिम् śāntim | peace |
| आप्नोति āpnoti | attains |
| नैष्ठिकीम् naiṣṭhikīm | lasting, steadfast |
| अयुक्तः ayuktaḥ | the unsteady |
| कामकारेण kāmakāreṇa | driven by desire kāma (desire) + kāreṇa (by the action of) |
| फले phale | to the fruit |
| सक्तः saktaḥ | attached |
| निबध्यते nibadhyate | is bound |
Word-wise Chanting
- yuk–taḥ kar–ma–pha–laṃ tyak–tvā 8 syllables yuk-tah kar-ma-pha-lam tyak-tvaa
- śān–ti–māp–no–ti naiṣ–ṭhi–kīm | 8 syllables shaan-ti-maap-no-ti naish-thi-keem
- a–yuk–taḥ kā–ma–kā–re–ṇa 8 syllables a-yuk-tah kaa-ma-kaa-re-na
- pha–le sak–to ni–badh–ya–te || 5-12 8 syllables pha-le sak-to ni-badh-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 5 Verse 12
Context
Krishna contrasts the outcomes of two attitudes toward action (following 5.11).
Meaning
The yukta, the person steady in yoga, gives up claim on the results of action and gains naiṣṭhikī śānti, a peace that is stable and lasting. The ayukta, driven by desire, clings to the fruits and is bound by them. The same action leads to peace or bondage depending on the inner attitude.
This verse is a simple test for daily life: when you finish a task, do you feel peace or anxiety about the result? Peace grows when we do our best and release the outcome. Anxiety grows when our happiness depends on results.
In Practice
After finishing a piece of work today, consciously release your concern about how it will be received.
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.