Established in yoga, perform your actions, O Dhananjaya, abandoning attachment, remaining equal in success and failure. This evenness of mind is called yoga.
Synthesis
Having declared in 2.47 that one should act without attachment to results, Krishna now defines the inner posture from which such action flows. 'Yogasthaḥ' — established in yoga — means rooted in an inner equilibrium that is not disturbed by external outcomes. The command is threefold: (1) be established in yoga, (2) perform action, (3) abandon attachment. Then comes the practical definition: be the same in success and failure. And finally, the stunning definition: 'samatvaṃ yoga ucyate' — equanimity IS yoga. This single definition cuts through centuries of debate about what yoga means. It is not a posture, not a technique, not a mystical state — it is evenness of mind. The person who remains inwardly balanced whether their project succeeds or fails, whether they are praised or blamed, whether circumstances are favorable or hostile — that person is a yogi, regardless of what they are doing outwardly. This definition makes yoga available to everyone: the warrior, the teacher, the parent, the entrepreneur. You do not need to retreat to a cave; you need to act with equanimity. This verse has been foundational for every tradition's understanding of the Gita's practical message.
Commentaries 8 traditions
Shankara explains that 'yogasthaḥ' means established in the awareness of the Self, which is beyond all dualities. From this ground, action proceeds without creating bondage because the actor knows himself to be the witness, not the doer. Samatva (equanimity) arises naturally from this recognition — when you know yourself as the unchanging Self, the changing fortunes of action cannot disturb you. The definition 'samatvaṃ yoga ucyate' makes Self-knowledge the heart of yoga.
Apply This Verse
Personal Growth
True equanimity is not emotional flatness — it is the stability to give your best regardless of whether life rewards you. Practice receiving both praise and criticism, both success and failure, with the same inner composure. This is the definition of a yogi.
Questions this verse answers
- ?"How do I remain steady when everything around me is falling apart?"
- ?"Am I truly equanimous or just suppressing my emotions?"
- ?"How do I celebrate success without getting attached to it?"
- ?"What does it look like to face failure gracefully?"