Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9, Verse 28

English Translation

Thus, you will become free from bondage in the form of actions which are productive of good and bad results. Havng your mind inbued with the yoga of renunciation and becoming free, you will attain Me.

Detailed Commentary

।।9.28।। Commentary—Freed from auspicious and inauspicious fruits, you will thus be liberated from the bondage of karma. When you offer all things and actions to Bhagavan, you will be released from the fruits of auspicious and inauspicious karmas accumulated over infinite births. These karmic fruits will not lead you to birth and death. A devotee offers to Bhagavan only those actions performed in the present moment, in accordance with Bhagavan's command. Actions performed in accordance with Bhagavan's command are always auspicious. If, due to circumstances or by mistake, a devotee performs an inauspicious action, Bhagavan destroys that inauspicious karma. All actions performed are external; therefore, they manifest as favorable or unfavorable circumstances. Mistakenly, humans associate themselves with these circumstances, experiencing joy and sorrow. This is karmic bondage, through which one gets caught in the cycle of birth and death. However, if the devotee's focus remains on Bhagavan's grace, they become free from karmic bondage. 'Sannyasa-yoga-yuktatma' means offering all actions to Bhagavan. This process is called 'Sannyasa-yoga'. In several places in the Gita, the word 'Sannyasa' is used in different contexts, but it is also applied in devotion (bhakti). Just as a Sannyasi mentally keeps actions in the body (performing them without inner attachment), similarly, a devotee maintains their connection with Bhagavan. 'Vimukto Mam Upaiṣyasi' (You shall be liberated and come to Me)—By offering, you will be liberated from auspicious and inauspicious karmic fruits and attain Bhagavan. This means that liberation from all karmic fruits is a means to attain love, and the attainment of Bhagavan is the attainment of love. Specifically, any action, whether auspicious or inauspicious, has a beginning and an end. When actions and their fruits are impermanent, then the relationship with them also cannot be permanent. However, when the doer (karta) identifies with the action, then they establish a relationship with the fruit. The doer becomes free from sorrow upon relinquishing their wants. When a devotee surrenders themselves before Bhagavan, the circumstances of their life take the form of compassion (daya) and grace (kripa). Bhagavan empowers the devotee sometimes through love and sometimes through discipline (shasan). However, the devotee remains content in both, for their gaze is solely fixed on Bhagavan. It is said that just as there is no unkindness in a mother's affection (pyara) and her admonishment (tadana), similarly, Bhagavan's compassion and grace are one and the same. Connection—A doubt may arise: if Bhagavan liberates only the surrendered ones, why does it seem as though He shows partiality?