18. Renunciation and Surrender

Mokṣha Sanyās Yog

BG 18.4

There are three kinds of abandonment, Arjuna.

निश्चयं श्रृणु मे तत्र त्यागे भरतसत्तम
त्यागो हि पुरुषव्याघ्र त्रिविधः संप्रकीर्तितः

  • niśhchayaṁ — conclusion

  • śhṛiṇu — hear

  • me — my

  • tatra — there

  • tyāge — renunciation of desire

  • bharata-sattama — Arjuna
    Refers to Arjuna by his epithet "best of the Bharatas"

    • bharata — Bharatas

    • sattama — best of

  • tyāgo — about renunciation of desire

  • hi — indeed

  • puruṣha-vyāghra — tiger amongst men

    • puruṣha

    • vyāghra

  • tri-vidhaḥ — of three kinds

    • tri

    • vidhaḥ

  • samprakīrtitaḥ — declared

...18.3

There are three kinds of abandonment, Arjuna.

[4]

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

[5]

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

[6]

It is ignorant to renounce one's prescribed responsibilities.

[7]

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

[8]

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

[9]

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

[10]

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

[11]

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.

[12]

18.13...
Chapter 18, Verse 4