Krishna emphasizes unity in diverse paths by showing that both Sankhya and Yoga achieve the same end. This blurs distinctions between intellectual pursuit and active practice, guiding Arjuna toward a more integrated vision of spiritual growth.

For those struggling with renunciation, Krishna advises practicing yoga first. He implies that active engagement with discipline enables the seeker to later renounce effortlessly, emphasizing yoga as a preparatory path to deeper spiritual states.

By highlighting mastery over mind and senses, Krishna illustrates a practical ideal in karma yoga. The true yogi, rooted in equanimity, remains unaffected by actions, reflecting the Gita’s teaching that duty performed without attachment leads to liberation.

The senses, Krishna notes, function independently when the self is detached, freeing the mind from possessiveness. This cultivates a clear vision where actions are neither owned nor avoided, resonating with the Gita’s ethos of selfless duty.

The analogy of a lotus leaf illustrates how, in karma yoga, one can remain unaffected by worldly consequences. Actions dedicated to a higher ideal (Brahman) absolve one from attachment, teaching Arjuna about acting with inner purity.

Krishna stresses purity in action. Yogis act without attachment, motivated by self-discipline rather than desire, and thus avoid bondage. This sets the foundation for Arjuna to see duty as a means of inner purification rather than material gain.