Verse 2.48

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.48:

योग-स्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय ।
सिद्ध्य्-असिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते ॥ ४८ ॥

yoga-sthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṃ tyaktvā dhanañjaya |
siddhy-asiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā samatvaṃ yoga ucyate || 48 ||

yoga-sthaḥ–being situated in bhakti-yoga; kuru–perform; karmāṇi–prescribed duties; saṅgam–attachment (as the performer of action); tyaktvā–abandoning; dhanañjaya–O Dhanañjaya (Arjuna); siddhi-asiddhyoḥ–in success and failure (in regards to the fruit of action); samaḥ–equipoised; bhūtvā–having become; samatvam–equanimity; yogaḥ– yoga; ucyate–is called.

O Dhanañjaya, completely give up attachment to the success or failure of the results of your work. Thus connected in bhakti-yoga, perform your prescribed duty with equanimity. Such equanimity is called yoga.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

In this verse beginning with yoga-sthaḥ, Śrī Bhagavān is giving instructions on selfless action, or niṣkāma-karma. He says, “Become equipoised in victory and defeat, and just perform your prescribed duty of engaging in this battle.”

The result of this niṣkāma-karma-yoga is that it culminates in jñāna-yoga, thus jñāna-yoga is the subject of verses 47–51.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

Intelligence that is equipoised in the face of the success or failure of one’s prescribed work is called yoga.