{"entry":{"slug":"bg-chapter-05","title":"Bhagavad Gīta Chapter 5 — Karma-Saṃnyāsa Yoga","devanagari":"कर्मसन्न्यासयोग","iast":"karma-saṃnyāsa-yoga","type":"bg-chapter","url":"https://thecodex.expert/sanatana-dharma/texts/bhagavad-gita/chapter-05/","codex":"sanatana-dharma","last_verified":"2026-05","confidence":"high"},"chapter":{"number":5,"name":"Karma-saṃnyāsa-yoga","name_translation":"The Yoga of Renunciation of Action","verses":29,"speaker_primary":"Kṛṣṇa (throughout); Arjuna (5.1)","key_verses":["5.2","5.4–5.5","5.10","5.18","5.24–5.26"]},"summary":"Arjuna asks which is better — Saṃnyāsa (renunciation of action) or Karma Yoga. Kṛṣṇa: both lead to the same goal (5.4–5.5); but Karma Yoga is practically superior for one not established in knowledge (5.2). The inner renouncer acts fully yet is untouched (5.10: lotus-leaf). The equal-visioned sage sees Brahman in all beings (5.18). Culminates in brahma-nirvāṇa for those who destroy sins and work for all beings' welfare (5.24–5.26). Closes with brief meditation reference pointing toward Ch.6.","key_verses_detail":{"BG_5_2":{"iast":"saṃnyāsaḥ karma-yogaś ca niḥśreyasa-karāv ubhau / tayos tu karma-saṃnyāsāt karma-yogo viśiṣyate","translation":"Both Saṃnyāsa and Karma Yoga lead to liberation; yet between the two, Karma Yoga is superior to renunciation of action.","note":"Physical renunciation without purified knowledge leaves the mind as it was; Karma Yoga works on the mind directly."},"BG_5_4_5":{"iast_4":"sāṃkhya-yogau pṛthag bālāḥ pravadanti na paṇḍitāḥ / ekam apy āsthitaḥ samyag ubhayor vindate phalam","iast_5":"yat sāṃkhyaiḥ prāpyate sthānaṃ tad yogair api gamyate / ekaṃ sāṃkhyaṃ ca yogaṃ ca yaḥ paśyati sa paśyati","translation":"The wise do not speak of Sāṃkhya (knowledge-path) and Yoga (action-path) as different — one well-established in either obtains the fruit of both. The state reached by Sāṃkhyas is also attained by Yogīs. One who sees both as one truly sees."},"BG_5_10":{"devanagari":"ब्रह्मण्याधाय कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा करोति यः / लिप्यते न स पापेन पद्मपत्रमिवाम्भसा","iast":"brahmaṇy ādhāya karmāṇi saṅgaṃ tyaktvā karoti yaḥ / lipyate na sa pāpena padma-patram ivāmbhasā","translation":"One who, having surrendered actions to Brahman and abandoned attachment, acts — is not tainted by evil, as a lotus leaf is not tainted by water.","note":"brahmaṇy ādhāya karmāṇi = surrendering all actions to Brahman as offering; padma-patram ivāmbhasā = the lotus-leaf simile."},"BG_5_18":{"iast":"vidyā-vinaya-sampanne brāhmaṇe gavi hastini / śuni caiva śva-pāke ca paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ","translation":"The wise see with equanimity a learned Brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a dog-eater.","note":"Same pure Ātman/Brahman is the ground of all beings — metaphysical equanimity, not moral equivalence. The sama-darśin (equal-visioned) sees the Self everywhere."},"BG_5_24_26":{"note":"Second occurrence of brahma-nirvāṇa in the Gīta (first: BG 2.72). Brahma-nirvāṇa for those whose sins are destroyed, doubts cut, minds controlled, who work for welfare of all beings (sarva-bhūta-hite ratāḥ). The Karma Yoga thread maintained even at threshold of liberation."}},"inner_renouncer":"BG 5.7–5.12: acts through body/mind/intellect/senses; identifies as witness not doer; purpose of action = purification of the self (5.11). BG 5.8–5.9: while seeing/hearing/touching/smelling/eating — the disciplined person knows 'I do nothing at all.'","shankara_position":"Karma Yoga is preparatory — purifies the mind for Jñāna (the final liberating factor). Physical Saṃnyāsa without Jñāna is inferior. Rāmānuja: Karma Yoga performed as service to Viṣṇu is itself complete.","sources":[{"tier":1,"citation":"BG 5.1–5.29 with Śaṅkara Gītābhāṣya · Gambhirananda (Advaita Ashrama, 2006), pp. 215–250"},{"tier":2,"citation":"Zaehner (OUP, 1969), pp. 195–211"},{"tier":2,"citation":"Flood, Introduction to Hinduism (CUP, 1996)"}],"navigation":{"previous":{"chapter":4,"url":"/sanatana-dharma/texts/bhagavad-gita/chapter-04/","name":"Jñāna-Karma-Saṃnyāsa Yoga"},"next":{"chapter":6,"url":"/sanatana-dharma/texts/bhagavad-gita/chapter-06/","name":"Dhyāna Yoga"}},"provenance":{"confidence":"high","last_verified":"2026-05","citation":"\"BG Chapter 5 — Sanātana Dharma Codex\", thecodex.expert/sanatana-dharma/texts/bhagavad-gita/chapter-05/, last updated May 2026."}}