BG 18.11
Having a body makes it is impossible to completely give up action. The truly renounced are those who relinquish the fruit of their actions.
यस्तु कर्मफलत्यागी स त्यागीत्यभिधीयते
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na — not
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hi — indeed
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deha-bhṛitā — for the embodied being
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deha
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bhṛitā
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śhakyaṁ — possible
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tyaktuṁ — to give up
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karmāṇy — activities
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aśheṣhataḥ — entirely
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yas — who
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tu — but
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karma-phala-tyāgī — renunciation of the fruit of actions
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karma — actions, work
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phala — fruits, results
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tyāgī — renunciation
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sa — they
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tyāgīty — a Tyagi, one who renounces desire
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tyāgī — one who renounces desire
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iti — as
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abhidhīyate — are said
There are three kinds of abandonment, Arjuna. 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.
Similar verses
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One who mentally renounces all action enjoys happiness and self-control of the body, neither doing anything nor causing anything to be done.
- Verse 5.13
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Having surrendered all claim to the fruit of actions, ever contented with the inner self, one ceases to act even if they may be engaged in action.
- Verse 4.20
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One cannot be free from action by simply abstaining from any actions, nor can one achieve perfection by renunciation alone.
- Verse 3.4
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One does not gain the fruit of renunciation by renouncing painful actions out of the fear of the body's suffering.
- Verse 18.8
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One who abandons the fruit of action attains everlasting peace. Those who remain attached to the fruit of their actions, driven by desire for the outcome, remain in bondage to attachment.
- Verse 5.12