Chapter 2 · Sankhya Yoga - The Yoga of KnowledgeKrishna
Verse 38
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 2, श्लोक 38
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
सुखदुःखे समे कृत्वा लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ।
ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि॥३८॥
Transliteration
Sukha-Duhkhe Same Kritva Labha-Alabhau Jaya-Ajayau.
Tato Yuddhaya Yujyasva Naivam Papam-Avapsyasi.||38||
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
सुखदुःखेsukha-duhkhepleasure and pain
समेsameequal
कृत्वाkritvamaking
लाभालाभौlabha-alabhaugain and loss
जयाजयौjaya-ajayauvictory and defeat
युद्धायyuddhayafor battle
युज्यस्वyujyasvaengage
न पापम्na papamno sin
अवाप्स्यसिavapsyasiyou will incur
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
सुख-दुख, लाभ-हानि और जय-पराजय को समान मानकर युद्ध के लिए तैयार हो जाओ। इस प्रकार युद्ध करने से तुम्हें पाप नहीं लगेगा।
English Translation
Treating pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat as equal, engage in battle. In this way, you will incur no sin.
Commentary (टीका)
This verse is a critical transition from Sankhya philosophy to Karma Yoga. Equanimity in all dualities — pleasure/pain, gain/loss, victory/defeat — is the key to sinless action. When one acts without attachment to outcomes, the action itself becomes liberating. This is the seed of Nishkama Karma that Krishna will elaborate upon.