Chapter 12, Verse 11
अथैतदप्यशक्तोऽसि कर्तुं मद्योगमाश्रितः | सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं ततः कुरु यतात्मवान् ||१२-११||
athaitadapyaśakto.asi kartuṃ madyogamāśritaḥ . sarvakarmaphalatyāgaṃ tataḥ kuru yatātmavān ||12-11||
Meaning
12.11 If thou art unable to do even this, then, resorting to union with Me, renounce the fruits of all actions with the self controlled.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Krishna offers the gentlest rung of all. If even working consciously for His sake feels beyond reach, then take refuge in union with Him (mat-yogam āśritaḥ) and simply let go of the fruits of every action (sarva-karma-phala-tyāgam), keeping the self restrained (yata-ātmavān). One may not yet be able to hold God constantly in mind, yet one can release the anxious craving for results.
This renunciation is subtle but powerful. By surrendering the harvest of action while remaining inwardly steady, the seeker is freed from the grip of desire and fear. Even this seemingly small act, rooted in self-control, opens the door to peace — as the next verse will affirm.
💡 Key Takeaway
If nothing else, surrender the fruits of all your actions and stay inwardly steady.
Related Verses
ये तु सर्वाणि कर्माणि मयि संन्यस्य मत्परः | अनन्येनैव योगेन मां ध्यायन्त उपासते ||१२-६||
ye tu sarvāṇi karmāṇi mayi saṃnyasya matparaḥ . ananyenaiva yogena māṃ dhyāyanta upāsate ||12-6||
12.6 But to those who worship Me, renouncing all actions in Me, regarding Me as the supreme gaol, meditating on Me with single-minded Yoga.
तेषामहं समुद्धर्ता मृत्युसंसारसागरात् | भवामि नचिरात्पार्थ मय्यावेशितचेतसाम् ||१२-७||
teṣāmahaṃ samuddhartā mṛtyusaṃsārasāgarāt . bhavāmi nacirātpārtha mayyāveśitacetasām ||12-7||
12.7 To those whose minds are set on Me, O Arjuna, verily I become ere long the saviour out of the ocean of Samsara.
मय्येव मन आधत्स्व मयि बुद्धिं निवेशय | निवसिष्यसि मय्येव अत ऊर्ध्वं न संशयः ||१२-८||
mayyeva mana ādhatsva mayi buddhiṃ niveśaya . nivasiṣyasi mayyeva ata ūrdhvaṃ na saṃśayaḥ ||12-8||
12.8 Fix thy mind in Me only, thy intellect in Me, (then) thou shalt no doubt live in Me alone hereafter.