naiva kiñchit karomīti yukto manyeta tattva-vit
paśhyañ śhṛiṇvan spṛiśhañjighrann aśhnangachchhan svapañśhvasan||8||

pralapan visṛijan gṛihṇann unmiṣhan nimiṣhann api
indriyāṇīndriyārtheṣhu vartanta iti dhārayan||9||

Meaning : The enlightened yogi, who truly understands the Self, thinks: “I do nothing at all.” Though this person is seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, moving, dreaming, and breathing, they know these are simply actions of the body and senses, not the true Self acting. Even while speaking, letting out breath, taking things, opening and closing the eyes, the senses remain engaged with their objects. But the yogi holds firmly the understanding that they themselves are not the doer; they remain detached and witness all these activities.

yoga-yukto viśhuddhātmā vijitātmā jitendriyaḥ
sarva-bhūtātma-bhūtātmā kurvann api na lipyate||7||

Meaning : The person who is united with yoga, whose soul is pure and who has mastered the self and senses, perceives the same self in all beings. Even while performing actions, such a person remains untouched or unaffected by any sin, bondage, or impurity.

sannyāsas tu mahā-bāho duḥkham āptum ayogataḥ
yoga-yukto munir brahma na chireṇādhigachchhati||6||

Meaning : O Arjuna, renouncing all actions (sannyasa) without the practice of yoga causes suffering and difficulty. But the wise sage who is united with yoga — who performs actions with discipline, meditation, and devotion — attains the supreme reality (Brahman) quickly and surely.

yat sānkhyaiḥ prāpyate sthānaṁ tad yogair api gamyate
ekaṁ sānkhyaṁ cha yogaṁ cha yaḥ paśhyati sa paśhyati||5||

Meaning : The ultimate state of liberation (or self-realization) that is attained through the path of knowledge and discrimination (Sankhya), is also attained through the path of yoga (meditation and disciplined action). The wise person who understands that both Sankhya (the analytical knowledge path) and Yoga (the practical meditative path) lead to the same goal truly perceives the truth.

sānkhya-yogau pṛithag bālāḥ pravadanti na paṇḍitāḥ
ekamapyāsthitaḥ samyag ubhayor vindate phalam||4||

Meaning : Some people mistakenly think that the path of knowledge (Sānkhya) and the path of selfless action (Yoga) are separate and unrelated. But truly wise people know that both paths lead to the same goal—spiritual realization. If you fully and sincerely follow one path, you will get the benefits of both knowledge and action.

jñeyaḥ sa nitya-sannyāsī yo na dveṣhṭi na kāṅkṣhati
nirdvandvo hi mahā-bāho sukhaṁ bandhāt pramuchyate||3||

Meaning : O mighty-armed Arjuna, That person should be considered a true renunciant (a real sannyāsī), Who neither hates anything nor craves for anything. Such a person, who is free from opposites like liking and disliking, pleasure and pain, Easily becomes free from all worldly bondage and suffering.

śhrī bhagavān uvācha
sannyāsaḥ karma-yogaśh cha niḥśhreyasa-karāvubhau
tayos tu karma-sannyāsāt karma-yogo viśhiṣhyate||2||

Meaning : Lord Krishna said:
Giving up actions (sannyasa) and performing actions without selfish desires (karma yoga) are both good paths that can lead a person to spiritual freedom and inner peace. Both can help a person reach the highest goal of life—liberation. However, between the two, selfless action is better than completely renouncing all action. Because when you act with the right attitude—without attachment or selfishness—
you grow spiritually while still living in the world and doing your responsibilities.

arjuna uvācha
sannyāsaṁ karmaṇāṁ kṛiṣhṇa punar yogaṁ cha śhansasi
yach chhreya etayor ekaṁ tan me brūhi su-niśhchitam||1||

Meaning : Arjuna said:
Krishna, sometimes you say giving up actions is good, and other times you say doing actions without selfishness is better. I’m confused between the two. Please tell me clearly which one is truly the best path.