Equanimity – Krishna’s Definition of Yoga

योगस्थ: कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय |
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्यो: समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते ||२.४८ ||

yoga-sthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā dhanañjaya|
siddhy-asiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā samatvaṁ yoga uchyate|| ||2.48||

Be steadfast in the performance of your duty, O Arjun, abandoning attachment to success and failure. Such equanimity is called Yoga.

This is one of the most beautiful definitions of Yoga given by Lord Krishna himself. He says that Yoga is balance.

Life constantly brings us experiences — some expected, some unexpected — all the fruits of our own Karmas. These experiences can be pleasant or unpleasant. If we act with strong expectations of favorable results, we fall into the trap of Karma, because our focus shifts from the action itself to what we might gain from it.

When desires are not fulfilled, emotional turmoil arises. But when we perform every action with our best effort, without clinging to the result, we maintain inner balance. Success or failure then does not disturb us, because our true aim is steadiness of mind and full use of our abilities. That steadiness is Yoga.

Such internal balance is cultivated through Sadhana (spiritual practice), which slowly leads to detachment, surrender, and ultimately liberation.