BG 18.6
But these actions should be performed with detachment and without thought of reward.
कर्तव्यानीति मे पार्थ निश्िचतं मतमुत्तमम्
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etāny — these
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api — certainly
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tu — must be
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karmāṇi — activities
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saṅgaṁ — attachment
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tyaktvā — giving up
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phalāni — rewards
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cha — and
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kartavyānīti — should be done as duty
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me — of mine
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pārtha — Arjuna
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niśhchitaṁ — definite
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matam — opinion
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uttamam — supreme
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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An action is pure when it is performed without attachment, free from desire or aversion, by one who does not seek the result of performing it.
- Verse 18.23
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Pure renunciation is performing one's prescribed duties without any personal desire to act or the motivation of any reward.
- Verse 18.9
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Just as the ignorant act out of fondness for action, so too should the wise act without attachment, fixing their eyes upon the welfare of the world.
- Verse 3.25
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You have a right to perform your duty, but you are not entitled to the fruit of your actions. Do not let results be your motivation, and avoid attachment to inaction.
- Verse 2.47
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Therefore, without attachment, perform the work that is your duty, for one who does their duty without attachment attains perfection.
- Verse 3.19