Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 18 · Moksha Sannyasa Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 18.49 असक्तबुद्धिः सर्वत्र जितात्मा विगतस्पृहः
श्लोक 18.49
असक्तबुद्धिः सर्वत्र जितात्मा विगतस्पृहः ।
नैष्कर्म्यसिद्धिं परमां संन्यासेनाधिगच्छति ॥
asaktabuddhiḥ sarvatra jitātmā vigataspṛhaḥ |
naiṣkarmyasiddhiṃ paramāṃ saṃnyāsenādhigacchati ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
जिसकी बुद्धि कहीं भी आसक्त नहीं है, जिसने अपने मन को जीत लिया है और जो इच्छाओं से रहित है, वह संन्यास के द्वारा नैष्कर्म्य की परम सिद्धि को प्राप्त होता है।
Meaning in English
One whose mind is unattached everywhere, who has mastered oneself and is free from longing, attains through renunciation the supreme perfection of freedom from action.
Bhagavad Gita 18.49 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| असक्तबुद्धिः | asakta-buddhiḥ | with intellect unattached |
| सर्वत्र | sarvatra | everywhere |
| जितात्मा | jita-ātmā | self-mastered |
| विगतस्पृहः | vigata-spṛhaḥ | free from craving |
| नैष्कर्म्यसिद्धिम् | naiṣkarmya-siddhim | the perfection of freedom from action |
| परमाम् | paramām | supreme |
| संन्यासेन | saṃnyāsena | through renunciation |
| अधिगच्छति | adhigacchati | attains |
Explanation
One whose mind is unattached everywhere, who has mastered himself and is free of craving, attains through renunciation the supreme perfection of naiṣkarmya — freedom from the binding force of action. Such a person may still act, but action no longer creates bondage, because the clinging behind it is gone.
Naiṣkarmya was first mentioned in 3.4, where Krishna said one does not reach it merely by not acting. Readings differ on what saṃnyāsa means here. Shankara takes it as the formal renunciation that follows right knowledge, leading to the state of the self as actionless. Ramanuja, following the definition at the start of this chapter (18.2), reads it as tyāga — giving up doership and attachment to results while still acting. Tilak and Aurobindo likewise understand naiṣkarmya as inner freedom while action continues.
भावार्थ
जिसकी बुद्धि सब जगह आसक्ति-रहित है, जिसने अपने मन को जीत लिया है और जो इच्छाओं से मुक्त है, वह संन्यास द्वारा नैष्कर्म्य की परम सिद्धि को प्राप्त होता है।
Living it today
Freedom does not come from doing nothing; it comes from doing your part without clinging to how things turn out.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 18.49?
One whose mind is unattached everywhere, who has mastered himself and is free of craving, attains through renunciation the supreme perfection of naiṣkarmya — freedom from the binding force of action. Such a person may still act, but action no longer creates bondage, because the clinging behind it is gone.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 18.49?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 18 (Moksha Sannyasa Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 18.49 in daily life?
Freedom does not come from doing nothing; it comes from doing your part without clinging to how things turn out.
Reflected on verse 18.49?
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