टीका

Commentary

Krishna explains the consequence of not renouncing the fruits of action. For those who remain attached to the outcomes of their work, three types of karmic results await them after death: anishtam (undesirable — leading to lower births or suffering), ishtam (desirable — leading to heavenly enjoyments), and mishram (mixed — a combination of both).

But for those who truly renounce — who work in consciousness of the Supreme and offer all results to the Lord — none of these karmic fruits accumulate. They remain free, both in this life and after death.

A person in Krishna consciousness performs actions while understanding their relationship with Krishna. Such a person acts on Krishna’s behalf, knowing that everything ultimately belongs to the Lord. Because the action is performed as service, without selfish motivation, no karmic reaction is generated.

This verse makes the stakes clear. The choice is not merely between comfort and discomfort in this life. It is between continued bondage in the cycle of birth and death and ultimate liberation. Those who do not learn to renounce the fruits of action will continue to experience the results — pleasant, unpleasant, and everything in between — life after life. The true renouncer breaks free from this cycle entirely.