BG 18.7
It is ignorant to renounce one's prescribed responsibilities.
मोहात्तस्य परित्यागस्तामसः परिकीर्तितः
-
niyatasya — of prescribed duties
-
tu — but
-
sannyāsaḥ — renunciation
-
karmaṇo — actions
-
nopapadyate — never to be performed
-
na — never
-
upapadyate — to be performed
-
-
mohāt — deluded
-
tasya — of that
-
parityāgas — renunciation
-
tāmasaḥ — in the mode of ignorance
-
parikīrtitaḥ — has been declared
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
-
Pure renunciation is performing one's prescribed duties without any personal desire to act or the motivation of any reward.
- Verse 18.9
-
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.
- Verse 18.48
-
Krishna said: One who acts out of duty, without depending on the fruit of their actions, is truly renounced and a knower of Yoga - not one who merely shuns all action.
- Verse 6.1
-
Sacrifice which goes contrary to the scriptures, unaccompanied by prayer, offerings, and faith, is one of ignorance.
- Verse 17.13
-
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.
- Verse 18.47