śrī bhagavān uvāca anāśritaḥ karma-phalaṁ kāryaṁ karma karoti yaḥ sa sannyāsī ca yogī ca na niragnir na cākriyaḥ
"The Blessed Lord said: One who performs their duty without depending on the fruits of action is a true renunciate and yogi—not one who merely gives up fire rituals or action."
What This Means:
Krishna redefines renunciation. A true sannyasi isn't someone who stops doing everything—it's someone who acts without being attached to results. You can be a renunciate while fully engaged in life.
Going Deeper:
This verse dissolves the apparent contradiction from Chapter 5. True renunciation isn't about external actions (giving up rituals or duties) but internal attitude (giving up attachment to outcomes). The householder doing their duty without selfish motivation is more of a renunciate than the monk who has merely changed clothes.
How To Apply This:
You don't need to quit your job or move to a monastery. Practice renunciation right where you are by doing your work excellently while releasing attachment to specific outcomes. The inner transformation matters more than outer circumstances.
Key Sanskrit Terms: