Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5, Verse 6

English Translation

But, O mighty-armed one, renunciation is hard to attain without (Karma-) yoga. The meditative man eipped with yoga attains Brahman without delay.

Detailed Commentary

5.6. Commentary: "Sannyāsastu Mahābāho duḥkhamāptumayogataḥ" - For the success of Sāṅkhya Yoga, the practice of Karma Yoga is essential. Without it, the attainment (siddhi) of Sāṅkhya Yoga becomes difficult. However, for the attainment (siddhi) of Karma Yoga, the practice of Sāṅkhya Yoga is not necessary. This very idea is expressed by the word 'tu'. The goal of a Sāṅkhya Yogī is to experience Paramātmā. But as long as attachment (rāga) persists, leave aside the experience of Paramātmā through this practice; it is difficult even to comprehend it. A simple way to eradicate attachment (rāga) is to practice Karma Yoga. In Karma Yoga, every action is performed solely for the welfare of others. With the feeling of working for the welfare of others, one's own attachment (rāga) naturally vanishes. Therefore, by eradicating attachment (rāga) through the practice of Karma Yoga, the pursuit of Sāṅkhya Yoga becomes easier. Without Karma Yoga, the attainment (siddhi) of Sāṅkhya Yoga is difficult. "Yogayukto munirbrahma nacireṇādhigacchati" (A Muni, united in Yoga, attains Brahman without delay.) - A Karma Yogī, who contemplates their niṣkāma bhāva (desireless attitude) and the welfare of others, is called a 'Muni'. While performing every action, a Karma Yogī observes: Is my attitude niṣkāma (desireless) or sakāma (with desire)? As soon as a sakāma bhāva arises, they eradicate it; because with a sakāma bhāva, that action becomes for oneself and for one's own benefit. How can the welfare of others be achieved? Contemplating in this manner facilitates the relinquishment of attachment (rāga) with ease. Through the above verses, Bhagavān is explaining the distinctiveness of Karma Yoga, stating that a Karma Yogī quickly attains Paramātmā. The reason for delay in the attainment of Paramātmā is attachment (rāga) to the world. By continuously performing actions with niṣkāma bhāva solely for the welfare of others, the Karma Yogī's attachment (rāga) is completely extinguished, and in the absence of attachment, the experience of Paramātmā occurs spontaneously. Bhagavān has expressed this very idea in the thirty-eighth verse of the Fourth Chapter: "Tat svayaṁ yogasaṁsiddhaḥ kālenātmani vindati" (One who is perfected in Yoga finds it in the Self in due course of time), meaning that as soon as one is perfected in Yoga, tattvajñāna (knowledge of the ultimate truth) is attained. This practice does not require any other means. There is neither difficulty nor delay in its accomplishment (siddhi). Another reason is that an embodied being (dehadhārī) cannot abandon all actions, but one who renounces the fruits of action is called a tyāgī (renouncer) (18.11). This implies that a person cannot renounce actions themselves, but can certainly renounce the desire for their fruits. Hence, there is ease in Karma Yoga. In praise of Karma Yoga, Bhagavān states that a Karma Yogī immediately attains peace: "Tyāgācchāntiranantaram" (From renunciation, comes peace immediately) (Gītā 12.12). They are joyfully liberated from the bondage of saṁsāra: "Sukhaṁ bandhātpramucyate" (Is easily released from bondage) (Gītā 5.3). Therefore, the practice of Karma Yoga is an easy, quickly bestowing siddhi, and independent means of attaining Paramātmā without the need for any other practice. Connection: Now Bhagavān describes the characteristics of a Karma Yogī.