Verse 11
कायेन मनसा बुद्ध्या केवलैरिन्द्रियैरपि | योगिनः कर्म कुर्वन्ति सङ्गं त्यक्त्वात्मशुद्धये || ११ ||
Transliteration
kāyena manasā buddhyā kevalair indriyair api yoginaḥ karma kurvanti saṅgaṃ tyaktvātma-śuddhaye
Synonyms
kāyena—with the body; manasā—with the mind; buddhyā—with the intelligence; kevalaiḥ—purified; indriyaiḥ—with the senses; api—even; yoginaḥ—the yogis; karma—actions; kurvanti—perform; saṅgam—attachment; tyaktvā—giving up; ātma-śuddhaye—for the purification of the soul.
Translation
“The yogis perform action with body, mind, intellect, and even the senses — abandoning attachment — for the purpose of self-purification.”
Multi-Tradition Commentary
Here Krishna specifies the instruments through which the yogi acts: the physical body, the emotional-desiring mind, the discriminating intellect, and the five senses. All are engaged, but engagement is not the problem — attachment is. When actions are performed as service to the Divine, without personal agenda, they become a purifying fire that burns the accumulated impressions of ego.
Practical Application (Modern Life)
Engage your full self in your work — body, mind, and intelligence — but release the claim of ownership over the results. This is not half-heartedness; it is wholehearted action combined with wholehearted release. The combination is what purifies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 5.11 mean?
The yogis perform action with body, mind, intellect, and even the senses — abandoning attachment — for the purpose of self-purification.
What is the word-by-word meaning of Bhagavad Gita 5.11?
kāyena—with the body; manasā—with the mind; buddhyā—with the intelligence; kevalaiḥ—purified; indriyaiḥ—with the senses; api—even; yoginaḥ—the yogis; karma—actions; kurvanti—perform; saṅgam—attachment; tyaktvā—giving up; ātma-śuddhaye—for the purification of the soul.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 5.11 in daily life?
Engage your full self in your work — body, mind, and intelligence — but release the claim of ownership over the results. This is not half-heartedness; it is wholehearted action combined with wholehearted release. The combination is what purifies.