Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5 - Sanyasa Yoga - Sloka 2

The entire content of this mail is from Swami Chidbhavananda's translation of The Bhagavad Gita, published by Ramakrishna Mission.

Karma Yoga is Karma Sanyasa - 1-13

1 Gita Sloka every day - Chapter 5 -Sanyasa Yoga - Sloka 2

 Suka Brahmam addressing Parikshit

Shri Bhagavan Uvacha

Sanyasah karmayogascha nishreyas karau ubhau I

Tayoh tu karma sanyasat karmayogah vishishyate II sloka 2

श्री भगवान उवाच

सन्यासः कर्मयोगः च निश्रेयस करौ उभौ ।

तयोः तो कर्म संयासात  कर्मयोगः विशिष्यते ।। श्लोक २

The Lord said

Renunciation and performance of action both lead to freedom;of the two, performance of action is superior to renunciation of action.

Mukti or the emancipation of the soul is contained in sreyas, and it is the acme of human life. It can be gained by wither emancipation of action or by its performance. The sacred Badrika ashram in the interior of the Himalayas maybe reached by plane or on foot. Of the two the latter is preferable because of the experience and fruitful contact with people that  it brings. Karma yoga is akin to walking to Badrikashrama, while karma sanyasa is like reaching the place by plane. Through karma yoga method, wide experience is gained, the divine possibilities in the human is being processed to perfection and benign communion with the Lord's creation is established. These great purposes of life are denied to karma sanyasa.

The inexperienced player at the game of dice wants somehow to score a victory and he is intent on it. But an adept in it takes to the display of his talents first and attends to the gin next. Sadhakas who want to escape from the turmoils of the world are second to those who serve the world but are not bound by it. 

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa