Chapter 5: Karma Sannyasa Yoga (The Yoga of True Renunciation). In this chapter, Arjuna is faced with a dilemma: should he sacrifice everything and leave the world, or continue fighting? Sounds familiar, right? We face the same dilemma every day. Should I leave my work or stay? Should I forgive or move away? Should I strive for my dreams or simply accept fate? Arjuna finally puts it in words:
“Krishna, which is better — renouncing action (sannyasa) or continuing action (karma)?”
Krishna offers a balanced and honest response, stating that all methods can lead to freedom. However, most people benefit from Karma Yoga, which involves doing without selfish attachment.
Renunciation is not an escape from the world.
Krishna makes it quite clear that Sannyasa is not about escaping into the mountains or leaving life. You can drop your responsibilities, shave your head, and dress in orange — yet still be filled with anger, ego, desire, and fear. So what’s the point? Real renunciation is about leaving attachment rather than action.
“The true sannyasi is the one who performs their duty without craving results.”
Simply put, you can be spiritually aware while being a warrior on a battlefield, a mother raising children, or a student studying for exams, as long as you are not bound by ego or expectations.
Action vs Renunciation — Arjuna’s Confusion
Arjuna: “So should I fight or should I walk away and renounce everything?”
Krishna: “Renouncing action is not better than performing action with wisdom. Action done with awareness is greater than inactive silence.”
Because the actual battlefield is not only outside, but also within the mind. You can sit in a quiet room doing nothing but feel anxious. You may be in the midst of chaos and stay calm if your heart is removed from the outcome.
Who Is the Real Yogi?
A true yogi does not abandon life. It is the one who perseveres in life while remaining unbroken by it. He does not despise employment. He does not rely on results. Praise or criticism do not change him. He thoroughly embraces his role, yet he never forgets that he is more than that. Krishna says:
“One who performs their duty without selfish desires, whose mind and senses are controlled — they are truly renounced.”
Your Mind is the Real Battlefield.
You’re not fighting anyone. You are constantly fighting your own worry, fear, guilt, rage, and jealousy. That’s your Kurukshetra. Krishna explains that the person who has mastered their mind lives in tranquility, whether alone or in a crowd, whether they have won or lost. The problem is not with the world outside. The difficulty is how we react internally.
Important Conversation – Krishna & Arjuna
Arjuna: “If both renunciation and action can lead to liberation, why are you asking me to fight?
”Krishna: “Because giving up action isn’t true renunciation. Acting without attachment is. One who outwardly gives up actions but still desires inside is a hypocrite. But one who acts with inner detachment — he is the true yogi.”
Arjuna: “So peace isn’t in silence or escape?”
Krishna: “Peace comes when the mind is disciplined, desires are dissolved, and action becomes devotion — not compulsion.”
Freedom by staying rather than running
Krishna emphasizes the need of doing one’s duty to avoid suffering. You avoid pain by adjusting your attitude toward responsibility. You are still waking up. You still work. You still love. You’re still trying. However, you no longer feel compelled to produce outcomes. No more: “What if I fail?” No more: “What will people say?” Simply accomplish what needs to be done and leave the rest to the cosmos.A Simple Example. Think about a tree. It stands up to storms, heat, and rain and refuses to run. It remains entrenched, but flexible. That’s Karma Sannyasa Yoga. You don’t flee from life. You stand firm in your convictions while bending to the winds.
Essence of Chapter 5
True renunciation is not a departure from life; rather, it is freedom from ego and expectations. Actions performed without attachment purify the heart. Peace does not come from avoiding chores, but from performing them with consciousness. The actual battlefield is in the mind, not the outside world. A true yogi remains in the world, but it does not dominate him.Life will not miraculously get easier. People will continue to judge. Success and failure will still occur. But Karma Sannyasa Yoga teaches you how to go through it all calmly, groundedly, and freely. You do not have to give up your life. You just need to get over your fear of living it.
