Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 2, verse 48 · Krishna
Bhagavad Gita 2.48 · Yogasthah Kuru Karmani
योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय ।
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते ॥
yogasthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṃ tyaktvā dhanañjaya |
siddhyasiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā samatvaṃ yoga ucyate ||
Translation
Established in yoga, perform your actions, giving up attachment, Arjuna. Be even-minded in success and failure — this evenness of mind is called yoga.
Explanation
Here the Gita defines yoga itself: samatvam, equanimity. Yoga is not only a posture or a technique but a steady state of mind in the middle of action.
Context
Spoken by Krishna in chapter 2, Sankhya Yoga — “The Yoga of Knowledge”, which has 72 verses.
Frequently asked questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 2.48 mean?
Established in yoga, perform your actions, giving up attachment, Arjuna. Be even-minded in success and failure — this evenness of mind is called yoga.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 2.48?
Krishna, speaking to Arjuna, in chapter 2, Sankhya Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge).
Sanskrit text: traditional, public domain. Translation and explanation are our own.