Bhagavad Gita 18.8दुःखमित्येव यत्कर्म कायक्लेशभयात्त्यजेत्।स कृत्वा राजसं त्यागं नैव त्यागफलं लभेत् ॥
duḥkham ity eva yat karma kāya-kleśha-bhayāt tyajet
sa kṛitvā rājasaṁ tyāgaṁ naiva tyāga-phalaṁ labhet
Sanskrit recitation
True renunciation · 18.1–18.12 · Teaching
Translation
He who abandons action out of fear of bodily trouble (because it is painful), does not obtain the merit of renunciation by performing such Rajasic renunciation.
Hindi translation
जो कुछ कर्म है, वह दुःखरूप ही है -- ऐसा समझकर कोई शारीरिक क्लेशके भयसे उसका त्याग कर दे, तो वह राजस त्याग करके भी त्यागके फलको नहीं पाता।
Meaning
Phalam Fruit or reward Moksha or emancipation which is the reward of renunciation of all actions accompanied with wisdom.Determination and persistence are reired for the performance of religious duties and actions. One may begin action but may relinish it before it is completed on account of some difficulties or physical suffering. What then is Sattvic renunciation The Lord says --
After Swami Sivananda
True renunciation· 18.1–18.12→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 18.1Arjuna said, "O mighty-armed Hrishikesa, I desire to know the essence or truth of…
- 18.2The Blessed Lord said, "The sages understand sannyasa to be the renunciation of action…
- 18.3Some philosophers declare that actions should be abandoned as evil; while others declare…
- 18.4Hear from Me the conclusion or the final truth about this abandonment, O best of the…
- 18.5Acts of sacrifice, gift, and austerity should not be abandoned, but should be performed;…
- 18.6But even these actions should be performed, leaving aside attachment and the desire for…
- 18.7Verily, the renunciation of obligatory action is not proper; the abandonment of the same…
18.8He who abandons action out of fear of bodily trouble (because it is painful), does not…
- 18.9Whatever obligatory action is done, O Arjuna, merely because it ought to be done,…
- 18.10The man of renunciation, pervaded by purity, intelligent, and with his doubts cut asunder,…
- 18.11Indeed, it is not possible for an embodied being to completely abandon actions; however,…
- 18.12The threefold fruit of action (evil, good, and mixed) accrues after death to those who do…
Word-by-word→
- na
- never
- eva
- certainly
- iti
- as
- yat
- which
- karma
- duties
- kāya
- bodily
- saḥ
- they
- labhet
- attain
- phalam
- result
- tyajet
- giving up
- tyāga
- renunciation of desires for enjoying the fruits of actions
- bhayāt
- out of fear
- kleśha
- discomfort
- tyāgam
- renunciation of desires for enjoying the fruits of actions
- rājasam
- in the mode of passion
- duḥkham
- troublesome
- kṛitvā
- having done
Related verses
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- 11.20This space between the earth and the heavens, and all the quarters, is filled by You…
- 12.11If you are unable to do even this, then, resort to union with Me and renounce the fruits…
- 3.25As the ignorant act out of attachment to action, O Bharata, so should the wise act without…