The fifth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, called கர்மஸம்ன்யாஸயோக:³ or கர்ம-Sannyasa யோக³, opens on the battlefield of குருக்ஷேத்ர. Here, in the heart of the மஹாபா⁴ரத epic, two cousins-அர்ஜுன of the பாண்ட³வா: and ஶ்ரீக்ருஷ்ண, his charioteer and guide-continue their profound dialogue. The tension of war hangs heavy, but the real battle is within: அர்ஜுன is torn between his duty as a warrior and his longing for inner peace.
In the previous chapter, ஶ்ரீக்ருஷ்ண introduced the path of ஜ்ஞான-யோக³, the யோக³ of knowledge, and contrasted it with கர்ம-யோக³, the யோக³ of selfless action. அர்ஜுன is left wondering: is it better to renounce action entirely, or to act without attachment? The fourth chapter ended with the promise that knowledge and action, when rightly understood, lead to freedom.
As the chapter closes, ஶ்ரீக்ருஷ்ண paints a picture of the liberated soul-one who is at peace, seeing the same Self (ஆத்மா) in all beings, beyond likes and dislikes, beyond pride and possessiveness. This sets the stage for the next chapter, where ஶ்ரீக்ருஷ்ண will introduce the path of meditation and inner discipline, showing how the mind can be trained to rest in this deep peace.
ஓம் ஶ்ரீ பரமாத்மனே நம:
அத² பஞ்சமோத்⁴யாய:
கர்மஸன்ன்யாஸயோக:³
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
Salutations to the Supreme Self. Now begins the fifth chapter, titled The Yoga of Renunciation of Action.
அர்ஜுன உவாச
ஸன்ன்யாஸம் கர்மணாம் க்ருஷ்ண புனர்யோக³ம் ச ஶம்ஸஸி ।
யச்ச்²ரேய ஏதயோரேகம் தன்மே ப்³ரூஹி ஸுனிஶ்சிதம் ॥1॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
Arjuna said: Krishna, you have spoken about both giving up actions and also about the path of action. Please tell me clearly which one of these two is truly better, so I can follow it with confidence.
ஶ்ரீ ப⁴க³வானுவாச
ஸன்ன்யாஸ: கர்மயோக³ஶ்ச நிஶ்ஶ்ரேயஸகராவுபௌ⁴ ।
தயோஸ்து கர்மஸன்ன்யாஸாத் கர்மயோகோ³ விஶிஷ்யதே ॥2॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
The Blessed Lord said: Both renunciation of actions and the path of selfless action lead to the highest spiritual fulfillment, but between the two, the yoga of action is considered superior to the mere renunciation of work.
ஜ்ஞேய: ஸ நித்யஸன்ன்யாஸீ யோ ந த்³வேஷ்டி ந காங்க்ஷதி ।
நிர்த்³வந்த்³வோ ஹி மஹாபா³ஹோ ஸுக²ம் ப³ந்தா⁴த்ப்ரமுச்யதே ॥3॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
One who neither hates nor desires, who is free from the pull of opposites, should be understood as a true renouncer. Such a person, O Arjuna, is easily freed from all bondage.
ஸாங்க்²யயோகௌ³ ப்ருத²க்³பா³லா: ப்ரவத³ந்தி ந பண்டி³தா: ।
ஏகமப்யாஸ்தி²த: ஸம்யக் உப⁴யோர்விந்த³தே ப²லம் ॥4॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
Those who lack true understanding claim that the path of knowledge and the path of action are separate, but the wise do not see them as different. Whoever is sincerely established in either one of these paths will attain the results of both.
யத்ஸாங்க்²யை: ப்ராப்யதே ஸ்தா²னம் தத்³யோகை³ரபி க³ம்யதே ।
ஏகம் ஸாங்க்²யம் ச யோக³ம் ச ய: பஶ்யதி ஸ பஶ்யதி ॥5॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
The state that is reached by those who follow the path of knowledge is also attained by those who follow the path of selfless action. Whoever understands that knowledge and action, when properly practiced, lead to the same ultimate goal, truly sees things as they are.
ஸன்ன்யாஸஸ்து மஹாபா³ஹோ து³:க²மாப்துமயோக³த: ।
யோக³யுக்தோ முனிர்ப்³ரஹ்ம நசிரேணாதி⁴க³ச்ச²தி ॥6॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
However, O mighty-armed Arjuna, renunciation is difficult to achieve without practicing yoga. The sage who is disciplined in yoga swiftly attains the supreme reality.
யோக³யுக்தோ விஶுத்³தா⁴த்மா விஜிதாத்மா ஜிதேந்த்³ரிய: ।
ஸர்வபூ⁴தாத்மபூ⁴தாத்மா குர்வன்னபி ந லிப்யதே ॥7॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
A person who is established in yoga, whose mind is pure, who has mastered himself and his senses, and who sees his own self in all beings, is not affected by actions, even while actively engaged in them.
நைவ கிஞ்சித்கரோமீதி யுக்தோ மன்யேத தத்த்வவித் ।
பஶ்யன்ஶ்ருண்வன்ஸ்ப்ருஶஞ்ஜிக்⁴ரன் அஶ்னன்க³ச்ச²ன்ஸ்வபன்ஶ்வஸன் ॥8॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
The person who is steady in yoga and knows the truth should think, 'I am not doing anything at all,' even while seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, moving, sleeping, or breathing.
ப்ரலபன்விஸ்ருஜன்க்³ருஹ்ணன் உன்மிஷன்னிமிஷன்னபி ।
இந்த்³ரியாணீந்த்³ரியார்தே²ஷு வர்தந்த இதி தா⁴ரயன் ॥9॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
Even while speaking, letting go, grasping, opening or closing the eyes, one should recognize that it is simply the senses interacting with their respective objects.
ப்³ரஹ்மண்யாதா⁴ய கர்மாணி ஸங்க³ம் த்யக்த்வா கரோதி ய: ।
லிப்யதே ந ஸ பாபேன பத்³மபத்ரமிவாம்ப⁴ஸா ॥1௦॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
One who performs actions by dedicating them to the Absolute and letting go of attachment is not stained by wrongdoing, just as a lotus leaf remains untouched by water.
காயேன மனஸா பு³த்³த்⁴யா கேவலைரிந்த்³ரியைரபி ।
யோகி³ன: கர்ம குர்வந்தி ஸங்க³ம் த்யக்த்வாத்மஶுத்³த⁴யே ॥11॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
Yogis, having let go of attachment, perform actions using only the body, mind, intellect, and senses, acting simply for their own self-purification.
யுக்த: கர்மப²லம் த்யக்த்வா ஶாந்திமாப்னோதி நைஷ்டி²கீம் ।
அயுக்த: காமகாரேண ப²லே ஸக்தோ நிப³த்⁴யதே ॥12॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
A person who is steadfast and has given up attachment to the results of their actions attains a deep and lasting peace. But someone who is not disciplined, acting out of desire and clinging to the outcomes, becomes entangled and bound by their actions.
ஸர்வகர்மாணி மனஸா ஸன்ன்யஸ்யாஸ்தே ஸுக²ம் வஶீ ।
நவத்³வாரே புரே தே³ஹீ நைவ குர்வன்ன காரயன் ॥13॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
The self-controlled person, having mentally given up all actions, lives happily in the body, which is like a city with nine gates, neither acting nor causing actions to be done.
ந கர்த்ருத்வம் ந கர்மாணி லோகஸ்ய ஸ்ருஜதி ப்ரபு⁴: ।
ந கர்மப²லஸம்யோக³ம் ஸ்வபா⁴வஸ்து ப்ரவர்ததே ॥14॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
The Self does not create the sense of agency, actions, or the connection with the results of actions for anyone in the world. Instead, it is only natural tendencies that operate and bring these about.
நாத³த்தே கஸ்யசித்பாபம் ந சைவ ஸுக்ருதம் விபு⁴: ।
அஜ்ஞானேனாவ்ருதம் ஜ்ஞானம் தேன முஹ்யந்தி ஜந்தவ: ॥15॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
The all-pervading Self does not take on anyone's sins or good deeds. Instead, knowledge is hidden by ignorance, and because of this, living beings become confused.
ஜ்ஞானேன து ததஜ³்ஞானம் யேஷாம் நாஶிதமாத்மன: ।
தேஷாமாதி³த்யவஜ்ஜ்ஞானம் ப்ரகாஶயதி தத்பரம் ॥16॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
But for those whose ignorance has been removed by knowledge of the Self, their awareness shines like the sun, revealing the highest reality.
தத்³பு³த்³த⁴யஸ்ததா³த்மான: தன்னிஷ்டா²ஸ்தத்பராயணா: ।
க³ச்ச²ந்த்யபுனராவ்ருத்திம் ஜ்ஞானனிர்தூ⁴தகல்மஷா: ॥17॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
Those whose understanding is centered in the Supreme, whose very identity is rooted in That, who are unwaveringly dedicated to That, and who hold That as their highest purpose, reach the state from which there is no return. Their faults have been washed away by knowledge.
வித்³யாவினயஸம்பன்னே ப்³ராஹ்மணே க³வி ஹஸ்தினி ।
ஶுனி சைவ ஶ்வபாகே ச பண்டி³தா: ஸமத³ர்ஶின: ॥18॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
The wise, who are endowed with true knowledge and humility, see with equal vision a learned and humble Brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and even a person considered an outcaste who eats dog meat.
இஹைவ தைர்ஜித: ஸர்க:³ யேஷாம் ஸாம்யே ஸ்தி²தம் மன: ।
நிர்தோ³ஷம் ஹி ஸமம் ப்³ரஹ்ம தஸ்மாத் ப்³ரஹ்மணி தே ஸ்தி²தா: ॥19॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
Those whose minds are firmly set in seeing equality overcome the cycle of birth and death even while living in this world. Because Brahman is flawless and the same in all, such people are truly established in Brahman.
ந ப்ரஹ்ருஷ்யேத்ப்ரியம் ப்ராப்ய நோத்³விஜேத்ப்ராப்ய சாப்ரியம் ।
ஸ்தி²ரபு³த்³தி⁴ரஸம்மூட:⁴ ப்³ரஹ்மவித் ப்³ரஹ்மணி ஸ்தி²த: ॥2௦॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
One who knows the absolute reality and is firmly established in it, with a steady and undeluded mind, does not become elated when encountering pleasant things nor disturbed when facing unpleasant experiences.
பா³ஹ்யஸ்பர்ஶேஷ்வஸக்தாத்மா விந்த³த்யாத்மனி யத்ஸுக²ம் ।
ஸ ப்³ரஹ்மயோக³யுக்தாத்மா ஸுக²மக்ஷயமஶ்னுதே ॥21॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
One whose mind is not attached to external sense experiences finds true happiness within the self. Such a person, whose consciousness is united with meditation on Brahman, enjoys a happiness that does not fade or end.
யே ஹி ஸம்ஸ்பர்ஶஜா போ⁴கா³: து³:க²யோனய ஏவ தே ।
ஆத்³யந்தவந்த: கௌந்தேய ந தேஷு ரமதே பு³த:⁴ ॥22॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
Pleasures that arise from contact with external objects are truly sources of suffering, since they have both a beginning and an end. Therefore, Arjuna, a wise person does not seek happiness in them.
ஶக்னோதீஹைவ ய: ஸோடு⁴ம் ப்ராக்ஶரீரவிமோக்ஷணாத் ।
காமக்ரோதோ⁴த்³ப⁴வம் வேக³ம் ஸ யுக்த: ஸ ஸுகீ² நர: ॥23॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
Whoever, while still alive, can withstand the powerful urges that arise from desire and anger before leaving the body, that person is truly disciplined and finds real happiness.
யோந்த:ஸுகோ²ந்தராராம: ததா²ந்தர்ஜ்யோதிரேவ ய: ।
ஸ யோகீ³ ப்³ரஹ்மனிர்வாணம் ப்³ரஹ்மபூ⁴தோதி⁴க³ச்ச²தி ॥24॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
The yogi who finds happiness, delight, and illumination entirely within himself, having become one with Brahman, attains the ultimate liberation that is absorption in Brahman.
லப⁴ந்தே ப்³ரஹ்மனிர்வாணம் ருஷய: க்ஷீணகல்மஷா: ।
சி²ன்னத்³வைதா⁴ யதாத்மான: ஸர்வபூ⁴தஹிதே ரதா: ॥25॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
Those sages whose faults have been worn away, who have overcome all doubts and dualities, who have mastered themselves, and who are dedicated to the well-being of all creatures, attain liberation in the Absolute.
காமக்ரோத⁴வியுக்தானாம் யதீனாம் யதசேதஸாம் ।
அபி⁴தோ ப்³ரஹ்மனிர்வாணம் வர்ததே விதி³தாத்மனாம் ॥26॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
For those who are free from desire and anger, who are self-disciplined and have mastered their minds, and who have realized their true nature, liberation in Brahman is present everywhere.
ஸ்பர்ஶான்க்ருத்வா ப³ஹிர்பா³ஹ்யான் சக்ஷுஶ்சைவாந்தரே ப்⁴ருவோ:
ப்ராணாபானௌ ஸமௌ க்ருத்வா நாஸாப்⁴யந்தரசாரிணௌ ॥27॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
Withdrawing attention from all external sensory contacts, fixing the gaze steadily between the eyebrows, and balancing both the outgoing and incoming breaths moving through the nostrils,
யதேந்த்³ரியமனோபு³த்³தி⁴: முனிர்மோக்ஷபராயண: ।
விக³தேச்சா²ப⁴யக்ரோத:⁴ ய: ஸதா³ முக்த ஏவ ஸ: ॥28॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
The sage who has mastered his senses, mind, and intellect, who is fully dedicated to liberation, and who is free from desire, fear, and anger, is always liberated.
போ⁴க்தாரம் யஜ்ஞதபஸாம் ஸர்வலோகமஹேஶ்வரம் ।
ஸுஹ்ருத³ம் ஸர்வபூ⁴தானாம் ஜ்ஞாத்வா மாம் ஶாந்திம்ருச்ச²தி ॥29॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
One who recognizes Me as the ultimate recipient of all sacrifices and austerities, the supreme Lord of all worlds, and the true friend of every being, attains lasting peace.
॥ ஓம் தத்ஸதி³தி ஶ்ரீமத்³ப⁴க³வத்³கீ³தாஸு உபனிஷத்ஸு ப்³ரஹ்மவித்³யாயாம்
யோக³ஶாஸ்த்ரே ஶ்ரீக்ருஷ்ணார்ஜுனஸம்வாதே³ கர்மஸன்ன்யாஸயோகோ³ நாம பஞ்சமோத்⁴யாய: ॥
Translation (பா⁴வார்த²):
Thus ends the fifth chapter, called The Yoga of Renunciation of Action, in the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, which is found in the glorious Bhagavad Gita, a scripture on yoga and the knowledge of Brahman.
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