BG 18.1 - 78

I would like to understand the distinction between relinquishment and renunciation.

The sages know that renunciation is forgoing any action that springs from desire, while relinquishing is the forgoing of its fruit.

Some sages say that all action is evil and should be abandoned, while others say that acts of sacrifice, charity, and penance should not be given up.

One should perform acts of sacrifice, charity, and penance for the sake of purifying the soul.

But these actions should be performed with detachment and without thought of reward.

It is ignorant to renounce one's prescribed responsibilities.

One does not gain the fruit of renunciation by renouncing painful actions out of the fear of the body's suffering.

Pure renunciation is performing one's prescribed duties without any personal desire to act or the motivation of any reward.

A wise person of true renunciation does not avoid disagreeable work, nor seek out agreeable work.

Having a body makes it is impossible to completely give up action. The truly renounced are those who relinquish the fruit of their actions.

For those who cannot renounce all desire, there are three fruits of action - pleasant, unpleasant, or some combination of the two. For those who renounce the fruit of their actions, there are no such results in life or after death.

There is the body, the personality, the sense organs, the various kinds of activities, and cosmic destiny.

These five are the essential causes for any action a person may perform, whether by physical effort, speech, or thought, and whether the action be righteous or immoral.

Those with impure intellect regard the soul as the only agent of action - they cannot see things as they really are.

Even though they may kill living beings, one who is free from pride and attachment is neither the one who kills nor are they bound by their actions.

Knowledge, the object of knowledge, and the knower are the three incentives to action. The act, the actor, and the instrument are its three constituents.

Knowledge which is pure recognizes that in all beings, there is a single immutable, imperishable, undivided entity.

Knowledge born of passion sees all beings as distinct entities due to their individual nature.

Knowledge born of ignorance clings blindly to one form as if it were all, devoid of any reason, full of falsehoods and trivialities.

Actions born of passion seek to gratify sensual desires and nurture the ego, regardless of how strenuous the endeavor may be.

Actions born of ignorance are undertaken without regard to consequences, capacity, or potential harm.

One who acts with attachment, seeks the fruit of their actions, who is greedy, cruel, or swayed by delight or sorrow, is said to be of an passionate nature.

One who acts with ineptitude, vulgarity, deceit, laziness, despondency, and procrastination, is said to be of an ignorant nature.

The pure intellect knows when to act and when to renounce. It knows what should be done and what should not. It can discriminate between fear and fearlessness, bondage and deliverance.

The intellect which incorrectly understands righteousness and immorality, which cannot decide which action is proper and which is improper, is of a passionate nature.

The intellect which is enveloped in darkness, which regards immorality as righteousness and perceives all things contrary to what they are, is of an ignorant nature.

The conviction that holds to rituals, self-interest, duty, and wealth, is born of a passionate nature.

The conviction by which a foolish person does not abandon sleep, fear, grief, despair, and passion, is born of an ignorant nature.

That pleasure in a serene mind which starts like a poison and transforms into a nectar is said to be born of purity.

The pleasure from the contact of the senses with the sense objects, which starts as nectar and ends as poison, is born of passion.

The pleasure which deludes the self and arises from sleep, laziness, and inadvertence, is born of ignorance.

The duties of scholars and priests, soldiers, merchants, and laborers have all been classified according to the natural qualities they are born with.

Serenity, self-control, austerity, purity, forgiveness, righteousness, knowledge, wisdom, and faith, are the duties of scholars and priests.

The natural duties of a warrior are heroism, boldness, fortitude in battle, generosity, and leadership.

The natural duties of the merchants are agriculture, tending to cattle, and trade, while the natural duty of a laborer is one of service.

One reaches perfection by dedicating their actions to the creator of all beings who pervades all things.

It is better to do one's own duty, however defective it may be, than to follow the duty of another, however well one may perform it. One who does the duty ordained by their own nature incurs no sin.

One should not abandon their duty, even if it appears to be defective. All endeavors are enveloped by imperfection, just as fire is obscured by smoke.

One whose mind is entirely detached, who has conquered the self and is free from desire, attains through renunciation the supreme perfection and freedom from action.

Guided by a pure intellect, subdued by steadiness, renouncing all objects of the senses and casting aside both love and hatred,

resorting to solitude, eating sparingly, restraining the speech, body, and mind, fully engaged in the practice of yoga and meditation, taking refuge in dispassion,

forsaking egotism, violence, arrogance, desire, wrap, and superfluous possessions, free from the concept of "mine", firmly established in tranquility - such a spirit is capable of becoming Brahman.

Through such devotion, they come to know the truth of who and what I am. Realizing the truth, they enter into my divine kingdom.

Performing all actions for my sake, such a person attains the eternal, imperishable abode.

Dedicate all your actions to me, having me as your highest goal, and focus your thoughts on me at all times.

Having focused your mind on me, you will overcome all obstacles by my grace. If you do not choose to heed my words, and listen to your ego instead, you will perish.

If, in your vanity, you think of avoiding this fight, your resolve may be futile but your very nature will compel you to fight.

Bound by your own duty and born of your own nature, you will be compelled to do the very thing that delusion now prevents you from doing.

Seek refuge in the self with the entirety of your being. By my grace, you shall find supreme peace and an eternal abode.

Thus, I have imparted to you this truth, the most profound of all mysteries. Once you have fully reflected upon it, you are free to do as you will.

Dedicate yourself to me, worship me, sacrifice all for me, bow down before me, and you will certainly come to me. I promise you this, for you are truly dear to me.

Give up all earthly duties, and surrender yourself to me alone. Do not be anxious, for I will absolve you of all your sins.

This knowledge is for you. It should never be imparted to one who is devoid of austerity or devotion, who does not render service, who has no desire to listen, or is indignant towards me.

There is no one among mankind who does more valuable service, nor is there anyone on earth more beloved by me.

Whoever might study this spiritual discourse of ours will be worshipping me through the sacrifice of knowledge - this is my opinion.

And the one who listens to it with faith and without doubt will also be released, and rise to the worlds attained by the righteous.

Have you listened attentively to my words, Arjuna? Has your ignorance and delusion been dispelled?

My delusion has been destroyed, and by your grace, I have regained my conviction. Freed from doubt, I stand ready to carry out your will.

Thus, I have heard this wonderful dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna, which makes my hair stand on end.

By the grace of sage Vyasa, I have heard this secret and noble science from the lips of its master, Lord Krishna.

My king, I continuously rejoice as I remember this marvelous and auspicious dialogue.

As I recall again and again the exceeding beauty of Krishna, I am filled with amazement and joy.

Wherever there is Krishna, the Lord of Yoga, and wherever there is Arjuna, the great wielder of the bow, there is fortune, victory, prosperity, and morality. This is my conviction.