श्री भगवानुवाच अनाश्रितः कर्मफलं कार्यं कर्म करोति यः। स संन्यासी च योगी च न निरग्निर्न चाक्रियः।।6.1।।
shri bhagavan uvacha anashritah karmaphalam karyam karma karoti yah. sah sannyasi ca yogi ca na niragnih na ca akriyah.
Translation
The Supreme Lord said: He who performs his prescribed duties without attachment to the results is both a true renunciant and a yogi; he is not one who merely ceases fire sacrifices or abandons all activity.
Word Meanings
śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Lord said; anāśritaḥ — without taking shelter; karma-phalaṁ — result of action; kāryaṁ — obligatory; karma — work; karoti — performs; yaḥ — one who; saḥ — he; sannyāsī — renunciate; ca — also; yogī — mystic; ca — also; na — not; niragniḥ — without fire (sacrificial fire); na — nor; ca — also; akriyaḥ — without duty;
Understanding the Verse
In this opening verse of Chapter 6, Lord Krishna clarifies the true nature of renunciation (sannyāsa) and yoga (yoga). The key phrase “anāśritaḥ” (without taking shelter) emphasizes that the renunciant does not cling to the fruits of actions. Instead, he performs his prescribed duties (kārya) as an offering, maintaining equanimity. This inner attitude distinguishes a genuine sannyāsī and yogi from someone who merely gives up external rituals such as the Agnihotra fire sacrifice (niragniḥ) or abandons all activity (akriya).
The verse teaches that true renunciation is not about abandoning the world, but about transcending the ego‑driven desire for results. By engaging in action without attachment, a practitioner cultivates detachment (vairāgya) while still contributing to society, thereby integrating sannyāsa and karma‑yoga. This synthesis lays the foundation for the disciplined practice of meditation (dhyāna) that unfolds in the subsequent verses of Chapter 6.
Krishna’s statement also corrects a common misconception among ascetics of his time, who considered external austerities as the hallmark of spiritual accomplishment. By stating “na niragniḥ na ca akriyaḥ,” He dismisses the notion that merely stopping fire rites or disengaging from all work makes one a true yogi. The authentic path requires inner discipline, self‑control, and the performance of dharma (righteous duty) with a sense of detachment.
The concept of “karmaphala” (fruit of action) being irrelevant to the renunciant aligns with the broader teaching of Karma‑yoga found in Chapter 2. The practitioner sees actions as offerings to the Divine, thereby removing personal desire and ego. This mental shift transforms ordinary work into a spiritual practice, turning the battlefield of life into a field of yoga.
In the practical sense, this verse guides contemporary readers to adopt a balanced approach: fulfill responsibilities—whether in family, profession, or society—while cultivating an attitude of non‑attachment. By doing so, one moves toward the higher state of yoga, where the self is steadied, the mind is purified, and the seeker becomes ready for deeper meditation and ultimately self‑realization.
Thus, Chapter 6 Verse 1 sets the tone for the entire treatise on the mind, outlining the essential qualities of a true yogi: disciplined action, inner detachment, and the avoidance of superficial renunciation. It reminds us that the path to spiritual liberation lies not in escapism, but in conscious, self‑less engagement with the world.
