Complete learning edition. The Sanskrit source remains separate from attributed word meanings, translation, explanation and commentary witnesses. Diagrams and memory aids are study tools, not replacements for the source text.
श्री भगवानुवाच संन्यासः कर्मयोगश्च निःश्रेयसकरावुभौ। तयोस्तु कर्मसंन्यासात्कर्मयोगो विशिष्यते।।5.2।।
śhrī bhagavān uvācha sannyāsaḥ karma-yogaśh cha niḥśhreyasa-karāvubhau tayos tu karma-sannyāsāt karma-yogo viśhiṣhyate
Lord Shri Krishna replied: Both renunciation of action and the path of right action lead to the highest; however, right action is the better of the two.
English rendering by Shri Purohit Swami. Each source voice remains named.
Build the sentence from its parts
Read across once, then cover the meanings and recover them from the Sanskrit forms.
| Sanskrit form | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| śhrī-bhagavān uvācha | the Supreme Lord said |
| sanyāsaḥ | renunciation |
| karma-yogaḥ | working in devotion |
| cha | and |
| niḥśhreyasa-karau | lead to the supreme goal |
| ubhau | both |
| tayoḥ | of the two |
| tu | but |
| karma-sanyāsāt | renunciation of actions |
| karma-yogaḥ | working in devotion |
| viśhiṣhyate | is superior |
Sannyasa (renunciation of action) and Karma Yoga (performance of action) both lead to Moksha or liberation or the highest bliss. Though both lead to Moksha, yet of the two means of attaining to Moksha, Karma Yoga is better than mere Karma Sannyasa (renunciation of action) without the knowledge of the Self.
Attributed explanatory witness: Swami Sivananda. Chapter lens: Compare renunciation of work with renunciation of attachment and examine the chapter’s account of inner freedom.
Three named reading witnesses
Śaṅkara edition witness
Swami GambiranandaThe Blessed Lord said, "Both renunciation of actions and Karma-yoga lead to liberation; however, Karma-yoga excels over renunciation of actions."
Rāmānuja edition witness
Swami AdidevanandaThe Lord said, "Renunciation of actions and Karma Yoga both lead to the highest excellence; however, of the two, Karma Yoga surpasses renunciation of actions."
Sivananda commentary witness
Swami SivanandaSannyasa (renunciation of action) and Karma Yoga (performance of action) both lead to Moksha or liberation or the highest bliss. Though both lead to Moksha, yet of the two means of attaining to Moksha, Karma Yoga is better than mere Karma Sannyasa (renunciation of action) without the knowledge of the Self.
These are concise, attributed reading witnesses from identified editions. They are presented for comparison and are not merged into one anonymous interpretation.
Meaning map
Follow the thought
- 1
Lord Shri Krishna replied
- 2
Both renunciation of action and the path of right action lead to the highest
- 3
however, right action is the better of the two
Look, link, cover, teach
Look
Picture inner renunciation.
Link
Use the line starts: śhrī bhagavān / sannyāsaḥ karma-yogaśh / tayos tu.
Cover
Hide the verse and rebuild one line at a time.
Teach
Explain the flow to another person without looking.
Circle repeated sounds, names, or grammatical endings before consulting a meaning.
Read one line aloud, cover it, and reconstruct as much as you can from memory.
Compare with a checked edition and record the source before adding any translation.
Build meaning without hiding the work
Compare renunciation of work with renunciation of attachment and examine the chapter’s account of inner freedom.
Mark forms you want to investigate
These are visual tokens, not a reviewed sandhi split. Select repeated forms, endings, compounds, particles or speaker markers; verify segmentation with the Sanskrit tools or a checked edition.
Three questions for this verse
- 1
What is renounced?
- 2
What action continues?
- 3
Which result or condition follows?
Rewrite a false action-versus-renunciation binary using this verse.
Attempt before comparison
Make revision visible
Assessment: read aloud, explain the verse’s role in its chapter, identify one source boundary, answer one question and schedule a return.
Turn this reading into a study record
Save it, return from memory, and write one idea in your own words. Your record stays in this browser unless you export it.