Chapter II · Śloka 38
सुखदुःखे समे कृत्वा लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ |
ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि ||
ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि ||
sukha-duḥkhe same kṛtvā lābhālābhau jayājayau |
tato yuddhāya yujyasva naivaṃ pāpam avāpsyasi ||
tato yuddhāya yujyasva naivaṃ pāpam avāpsyasi ||
Do battle for the sake of fighting, without considering happiness or distress, loss or gain, victory or defeat — and by so doing you shall never incur sin.
Here the teaching pivots from strategy to spirit. The first formulation of equanimity: treat pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat as equals. Act from duty, not from desire for outcomes. This is the seed of all that karma yoga will become.