Chapter 2 · Sankhya Yoga · ५०
Yoga is skill in action
Reflect on this shlok
योगः कर्मसु कौशलम्॥
Transliteration
buddhi-yukto jahātīha ubhe sukṛita-duṣhkṛite tasmād yogāya yujyasva yogaḥ karmasu kauśhalam
Sit with this verse
“buddhi-yuktaḥ — endowed with wisdom” is the key of this verse. Yoga is excellence and balance in action. Hold it beside “jahāti — get rid of” — one word alone stays unfinished.
Meaning
Yoga is excellence and balance in action.
Commentary: Swami AdidevanandaAnother reading
Possessed of wisdom, one rejects here both virtue and vice. Therefore, devote yourself to (Karma-) yoga; for yoga is skilfulness in action.
Commentary: Swami GambiranandaWord meanings
buddhi-yuktaḥ — endowed with wisdom
jahāti — get rid of
iha — in this life
ubhe — both
sukṛita-duṣhkṛite — good and bad deeds
tasmāt — therefore
yogāya — for Yog
yujyasva — strive for
yogaḥ — yog is
karmasu kauśhalam — the art of working skillfully
Essence
Skill is not mere speed; it is acting with awareness, balance, and the right intention.
A life example
Remaining calm and listening carefully in a difficult conversation is skill in action.
Its place in sequence
This verse follows “दूरेण ह्यवरं कर्म बुद्धियोगाद्धनञ्जय। बुद्धौ शरणमन्विच्छ कृपणाः फलहेतवः।।2.49।।” and precedes “कर्मजं बुद्धियुक्ता हि फलं त्यक्त्वा मनीषिणः। जन्मबन्धविनिर्मुक्ताः पदं गच्छन्त्यनामयम्।।2.51।।”. Reading the three together restores the rhythm of the dialogue.
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