In Bhagavad Gita 6.1, Krishna says that one who does their duty without depending on its fruits is both a renunciant and a yogi, not one who merely gives up the sacred fire or all activity.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अनाश्रितः कर्मफलं
कार्यं कर्म करोति यः
स संन्यासी च योगी च
न निरग्निर्न चाक्रियः ॥ ६-१ ॥
anāśritaḥ karmaphalaṃ
kāryaṃ karma karoti yaḥ
sa saṃnyāsī ca yogī ca
na niragnirna cākriyaḥ
English transliteration anaashritah karmaphalam
kaaryam karma karoti yah
sa samnyaasee cha yogee cha
na niragnirna chaakriyah ॥ 6.1 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The Blessed Lord said: One who performs the work that ought to be done without depending on its fruit is a renunciant and a yogi; not the one who merely gives up the sacred fire, nor the one who abandons all action.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अनाश्रितः anāśritaḥ | not depending on |
| कर्मफलम् karmaphalam | the fruit of action |
| कार्यम् kāryam | that which ought to be done |
| कर्म karma | work |
| करोति karoti | performs |
| यः yaḥ | who |
| सः saḥ | he |
| संन्यासी saṃnyāsī | renunciant |
| च ca | and |
| योगी yogī | yogi |
| च ca | and |
| न na | not |
| निरग्निः niragniḥ | one without the sacred fire |
| न na | not |
| च ca | and |
| अक्रियः akriyaḥ | one without action |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–nāś–ri–taḥ kar–ma–pha–laṃ 8 syllables a-naash-ri-tah kar-ma-pha-lam
- kār–yaṃ kar–ma ka–ro–ti yaḥ | 8 syllables kaar-yam kar-ma ka-ro-ti yah
- sa saṃn–yā–sī ca yo–gī ca 8 syllables sa samn-yaa-see cha yo-gee cha
- na ni–rag–nir–na cāk–ri–yaḥ || 6-1 8 syllables na ni-rag-nir-na chaak-ri-yah
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 6 Verse 1
Context
Chapter 6, the Yoga of Meditation, begins by restating the essence of karma yoga before describing meditation.
Meaning
In Vedic times, a saṃnyāsī gave up tending the household sacred fire and all ritual activity. Krishna says that such outer signs do not make a true renunciant. The real saṃnyāsī and yogī is anāśrita, not leaning on the fruits of action, while still doing what must be done.
The chapter of meditation opens by grounding meditation in right action. Meditation is not an escape from duty; it flourishes in a life of selfless responsibility. Inner freedom, not outward abandonment, is the mark of the yogi.
In Practice
Do one of your duties today without expecting anything from it. Notice whether this makes your later meditation calmer.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 6: Dhyana Yoga (The Yoga of Meditation). 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.