Srimad Bhagavad Gita Shloka 5.10

Shloka 5.10

“One who acts, offering all actions to Brahman, abandoning attachment, is untainted, like a lotus leaf in water.”
Key Teaching: Offering actions to Brahman without attachment keeps one untainted.
Theme: Guidance, Dharma, Karma Sannyasa Yoga.
Description:
Krishna teaches that one who offers all actions to Brahman, free from attachment, remains untainted, like a lotus leaf untouched by water. This verse, continuing 5.8–9, addresses Arjuna’s fear of sin (2.9). The themes of guidance, as Krishna instructs, dharma, as he clarifies pure action, and Karma Sannyasa Yoga, as he emphasizes detachment, are central.

In the Mahabharata, Arjuna’s fear of karmic taint (1.28–46) hinders his duty. Krishna’s teaching contrasts with Duryodhana’s attached actions (1.3–11), urging Arjuna to offer his Kshatriya duty to Brahman, aligning with Karma Yoga (2.47, 4.23). The lotus metaphor illustrates purity.

Philosophically, this verse addresses the human fear of karmic bondage, a theme Krishna refines with teachings on sacrifice (4.23–24). Arjuna’s reluctance complicates his dharma, necessitating Krishna’s guidance to act without attachment. The theme of Karma Sannyasa Yoga underscores the Gita’s focus on pure action.

Sanjaya’s narration frames Krishna’s teaching objectively, emphasizing its poetic clarity. This verse serves as a metaphor for life’s actions, where detachment ensures purity. Krishna’s teaching prepares readers for performing duty as an offering, aligning with liberation.