The core of yoga is maintaining inner peace and balance, regardless of external situations

Yogasthaḥ Kuru Karmāṇi Saṅgaṁ Tyaktvā Dhanañjaya
Siddhyasiddhyoḥ Samo Bhūtvā Samatvaṁ Yoga Ucyate

O Dhananjaya (Arjuna), perform your duties established in yoga, renouncing attachment, and being the same in success and failure. This evenness of mind is called yoga.

🕉️ Let us understand the meaning of the shlok

• Yogasthaḥ: Means "established in yoga." This implies performing actions with a mind rooted in the principles of yoga, or spiritual discipline.

• Kuru Karmāṇi: Refers to "perform your duties" or "carry out actions." Here, it encourages taking action without neglecting responsibilities.

• Saṅgaṁ Tyaktvā: Means "renouncing attachment." This phrase highlights the importance of letting go of attachment to outcomes and desires.

• Dhanañjaya: Another name for Arjuna, meaning "winner of wealth." Krishna addresses Arjuna, reminding him of his role and responsibilities.

• Siddhyasiddhyoḥ Samo Bhūtvā: Means "being the same in success and failure." It emphasizes maintaining equanimity regardless of the outcome.

• Samatvaṁ Yoga Ucyate: This phrase teaches that "yoga is equanimity." True yoga, according to Krishna, is the state of balance and composure amidst fluctuating results.

This shlok, from the Bhagavad Gita (Adhyay 2, Shlok 48), guides Arjuna on the essence of yoga, emphasizing the practice of performing one’s duties without attachment to success or failure. Krishna advises that real yoga is achieved through mental balance, where one remains unaffected by outcomes, rooted instead in the peace and steadiness of the self.

⌚ When to chant this shlok?

• Recite this shlok before beginning any important work, to cultivate a sense of focus on the process rather than the result.

• It is also helpful to chant when feeling anxious or overly attached to an outcome, as it serves as a reminder to return to equanimity.

• This shlok can be recited during meditation or reflective practices to instill a mindset of balance and non-attachment.

🧩 Three easy ways to integrate this shlok in your daily lives

Mindful Task Completion: Before any significant task, repeat this shlok to focus on doing your best without fixation on the outcome.

Reflection During Setbacks: When faced with disappointment, chant this shlok as a reminder to view both success and failure as part of the journey.

Daily Meditation: Incorporate this verse into your meditation routine to internalize the wisdom of detachment and equanimity.

🙏 Benefits of daily chanting

• Increased Resilience: Builds mental resilience by helping to detach from the highs and lows of outcomes.

• Focus on the Present: Encourages full engagement in tasks without worrying about results, fostering mindfulness.

• Enhanced Inner Peace: Cultivates a state of inner calm by shifting focus from external validation to internal balance.

💡 Good to know…

The concept of samatva or equanimity introduced in this verse is central to the Bhagavad Gita’s philosophy. It represents the ideal state where an individual remains unshaken by worldly dualities like joy and sorrow, success and failure. This evenness is also a quality Krishna associates with a sthitaprajna or a person of steady wisdom, who is liberated from desires and fears.

💭 Take a moment to reflect…

How can you apply the principle of equanimity in your daily interactions and work, focusing on the journey rather than the outcome?

Hari om!

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