📿 Shloka Collection

Athaitad Apyashaktah Asi

Gita 12.11 Bhagavad Gita
📖 Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 12 — Bhakti Yoga
अथैतदप्यशक्तोऽसि कर्तुं मद्योगमाश्रितः ।
सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं ततः कुरु यतात्मवान् ॥
Athaitad apyashaktoh asi kartum madyogam ashritah
Sarvakarmaphalatyagam tatah kuru yatatmavan
अथ
if
एतत् अपि
even this
अशक्तः असि
you are unable
कर्तुम्
to do
मद्योगम्
My yoga, union with Me
आश्रितः
taking shelter of, relying on
सर्वकर्मफलत्यागम्
renunciation of the fruits of all actions
ततः
then
कुरु
do, practice
यतात्मवान्
self-controlled, disciplined

The fourth and final rung. Even if dedicating your work to Krishna feels beyond reach, Krishna still does not abandon you. He says: take shelter in My yoga, keep your mind disciplined, and simply give up your attachment to the results of whatever you do.

Phala-tyaga — letting go of the fruit. A farmer plants seeds. Whether the monsoon arrives on time, whether the harvest is abundant or sparse — that is not in the farmer's hands. But he plants anyway. He works the soil. He does what he can, and leaves the outcome to forces beyond his control. That is phala-tyaga: full effort in the action, zero anxiety about the result.

This completes the four-rung practice ladder (12.8-11). Fix your mind in Me. If you cannot, practice repeatedly. If you cannot, dedicate your actions to Me. If even that is beyond you, let go of results. At every level, Krishna keeps the door open. No seeker is turned away.

The phrase 'sarvakarmaphalatyaga' (renunciation of the fruits of all actions) is regarded as one of the Gita's most practical teachings. In 12.12, Krishna will compare all these rungs and reveal what brings peace most immediately.

Chapter 12 · 11 / 20
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