कर्मजं बुद्धियुक्ता हि फलं त्यक्त्वा मनीषिणः। जन्मबन्धविनिर्मुक्ताः पदं गच्छन्ति माम्इषम्।।2.51।।
karmajaṁ buddhi-yuktā hi phalaṁ tyaktvā manīṣiṇaḥ | janma-bandha-vinirmitāḥ padaṁ gacchanti māṁ īśam ||
Translation
The wise, whose intellect is united with the Divine, abandon the fruits of action, and being freed from the bondage of birth, they attain the supreme abode of the Lord.
Word Meanings
karmajam — due to fruitive activities; buddhi-yuktāḥ — being engaged in devotional service; hi — certainly; phalaṁ — results; tyaktvā — giving up; manīṣiṇaḥ — great sages or devotees; janma-bandha — from the bondage of birth and death; vinirmitāḥ — liberated; padaṁ — position; gacchanti — they reach; māṁ — me; īśam — supreme; (note: synonyms separated by semicolons)
Understanding the Verse
In this verse, Lord Krishna elucidates the ultimate purpose of spiritual activity: the attainment of the Supreme through selfless action. The term karmajaṁ denotes that which is born of action, i.e., the results or fruits that naturally arise when a being works in the material world. Since these results are temporary and attached to the cycle of birth and death, they become a source of bondage for those who cling to them.
The phrase buddhi‑yuktāḥ emphasizes the role of an enlightened intellect. It is not merely the performance of duty, but the performance of duty with a mind that is aligned with the Divine consciousness that transforms ordinary work into a means of liberation. An intellect illuminated by spiritual wisdom perceives the futility of seeking personal gain from actions and instead offers them as an expression of devotion.
By stating hi phalaṁ tyaktvā, Krishna advises an absolute relinquishment of the desire for results. This does not mean abandoning action itself; it means performing actions without attachment, ego‑driven expectations, or the craving for reward. Such a stance dissolves the ego‑identity that binds the soul to karmic cycles.
The verse then describes the outcome of this attitude: janma‑bandha‑vinirmitāḥ. When one is free from attachment to birth and death, the ordinary shackles of existence dissolve. The soul, no longer weighed down by the accumulation of merit and demerit, becomes unburdened and pure, ready to rise above the material plane.
Finally, the sages who have attained this freedom "gacchanti padaṁ māṁ īśam"—they reach the Supreme Position, which is the divine abode of Krishna himself. This is the highest goal of Dharma‑yoga: to merge personal effort with divine will, thereby attaining the spiritual realm where all dualities cease.
Krishna's teaching here transcends a mere philosophical abstraction. It offers a practical roadmap for anyone seeking liberation. By integrating knowledge (buddhi), self‑less action (karma yoga), and devotion (bhakti), an aspirant can transform the ordinary field of life into a sacred arena for spiritual ascent. The verse thus serves as a concise yet profound summary of the Gita’s central message: liberation is achieved not by renouncing action, but by performing it with unalloyed devotion and a mind free from the desire for personal gain.
