buddhi-yukto jahātīha ubhe sukṛita-duṣhkṛite
tasmād yogāya yujyasva yogaḥ karmasu kauśhalam
buddhi-yuktaḥ — endowed with wisdom;
jahāti — get rid of;
iha — in this life;
ubhe — both;
sukṛita-duṣhkṛite — good and bad deeds;
tasmāt — therefore;
yogāya — for Yog;
yujyasva — strive for;
yogaḥ — yog is;
karmasu kauśhalam — the art of working skillfully
In life, we all do actions that can have positive or negative outcomes. These actions create results that affect our lives. For a long time, everyone has been building up these results from both good (like helping others) and bad deeds (like doing harm). This can lead us to forget who we really are beyond these actions and results. We become so caught up in this cycle of doing things and facing their results that we lose sight of our true self.
But there’s a way out. The teachings of the Bhagavad Gita guide us to understand our true nature. They tell us that by fully surrendering to Lord Krishna, we can break free from this constant cycle of doing good and bad actions, and also from the continuous cycle of birth and death.
This means that instead of getting stuck in the results of our actions, we should focus on doing our duty with the right attitude. In this verse, Krishna is telling Arjuna that if he dedicates himself to "yoga," which here means connecting with the divine through selfless service and devotion, he will be able to step back from the impact of both good and bad actions.
The term "yoga" here is about finding a skillful way to work. It’s not just about physical poses or meditation sessions; it also includes how we approach our daily tasks. When we do our work (be it at home, in our job, or in our community) with the right mindset—where we are not attached to the good or bad results—we can excel in what we do and find peace.
Krishna encourages Arjuna to embrace this way of life. By focusing on serving others and dedicating our efforts to something greater than ourselves, like the divine, we can purify our mind and heart. It helps us rise above the confusing advantages or disadvantages of our actions. This is the art of working skillfully, which leads to true peace and personal freedom. Essentially, Krishna advises Arjuna to engage in this practice to find clarity and avoid being weighed down by the results of his actions.