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Bhagavad Gita · 12.11 · The Yoga of Devotion·11 of 20

अथैतदप्यशक्तोऽसि कर्तुं मद्योगमाश्रितःसर्वकर्मफलत्यागं ततः कुरु यतात्मवान्

athaitad apy aśhakto ’si kartuṁ mad-yogam

āśhritaḥ sarva-karma-phala-tyāgaṁ tataḥ kuru yatātmavān

Sanskrit recitation

Many paths, one devotion · 12.1–12.12 · Teaching

Translation

If you are unable to do even this, then, resort to union with Me and renounce the fruits of all actions with self-control.

Meaning

This is the easiest path. If thou art unable to perform actions for My sake, if thou canst not even be intent on My service, if thou art unable to practise the Bhagavata Dharmas, if thous wishest to do actions impelled by personal desires, then do thou perform them (for your sake from a sense of duty) renouncing them all in Me and also abandon the fruits of all actions, at the same time practising selfcontrol.In verse 8 the Yoga of meditation is prescribed for advanced students in verse 9 the Yoga of constant practice if one finds that, too, to be difficult, the performance of actions for the sake of the Lord alone has been taught in verse 10 and those who cannot do even this are asked to abandon the fruits of all actions.Madyogam My Yoga. Surrendering all actions and their fruits to Me is My Yoga.Yatatmavan The man of discrimination who has controlled all the senses, who has withdrawn the senses from sound, touch, form, taste and smell.Now the Lord eulogises the renunciation of the fruits of all actions in order to encourage the aspirants to practise the Yoga of renunciation of the fruits of actions.

After Swami Sivananda

Many paths, one devotion· 12.1–12.12

Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.

Word-by-word
api
even
asi
you are
atha
if
etat
this
kuru
do
kartum
to work
tataḥ
then
mad-yogam
with devotion to me
aśhaktaḥ
unable
sarva-karma
of all actions
āśhritaḥ
taking refuge
phala-tyāgam
to renounce the fruits
yata-ātma-vān
be situated in the self

Related verses

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