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अथैतदप्यशक्तोऽसि कर्तुं मद्योगमाश्रितः।सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं ततः कुरु यतात्मवान्।।12.11।।

athaitad apy aśhakto ’si kartuṁ mad-yogam āśhritaḥ sarva-karma-phala-tyāgaṁ tataḥ kuru yatātmavān

Sanskrit Chant Recitation
Chapter 12, Verse 11
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Scripture Translation Room

Sanskrit to English Translation

Translator:
If you are unable to do even this, then, resort to union with Me and renounce the fruits of all actions with self-control.

A Reading - Rantideb

Why: if you are unable to do even this, then, taking refuge in Krishna's yoga, abandon the fruits of all action, with the self controlled, offering yet another fallback, this time centered specifically on releasing attachment to outcomes rather than any particular active practice.

In life: sometimes the most accessible entry point into a demanding discipline isn't a simplified version of the practice itself, but simply releasing your grip on how things turn out.

Teaching: if every version of an active practice still feels out of reach right now, try starting instead with simply releasing your attachment to outcomes in whatever you're already doing, that shift alone is itself a legitimate starting point.

athaif
etatthis
apieven
aśhaktaḥunable
asiyou are
kartumto work
mad-yogamwith devotion to me
āśhritaḥtaking refuge
sarva-karmaof all actions
phala-tyāgamto renounce the fruits
tataḥthen
kurudo
yata-ātma-vānbe situated in the self

Deep Classical Commentary (Bhashya)

Author:
12.11 अथ if? एतत् this? अपि also? अशक्तः unable? असि (thou) art? कर्तुम् to do? मद्योगम् My Yoga? आश्रितः resorting to? सर्वकर्मफलत्यागम् the renunciation of the fruits of all actions? ततः then? कुरु do? यतात्मवान् selfcontrolled.Commentary This is the easiest path. If thou art unable to perform actions for My sake? if thou canst not even be intent on My service? if thou art unable to practise the Bhagavata Dharmas? if thous wishest to do actions impelled by personal desires? then do thou perform them (for your sake from a sense of duty) renouncing them all in Me and also abandon the fruits of all actions? at the same time practising selfcontrol.In verse 8 the Yoga of meditation is prescribed for advanced students in verse 9 the Yoga of constant practice if one finds that? too? to be difficult? the performance of actions for the sake of the Lord alone has been taught in verse 10 and those who cannot do even this are asked to abandon the fruits of all actions.Madyogam My Yoga. Surrendering all actions and their fruits to Me is My Yoga.Yatatmavan The man of discrimination who has controlled all the senses? who has withdrawn the senses from sound? touch? form? taste and smell.Now the Lord eulogises the renunciation of the fruits of all actions in order to encourage the aspirants to practise the Yoga of renunciation of the fruits of actions.