BG 18.8
One does not gain the fruit of renunciation by renouncing painful actions out of the fear of the body's suffering.
स कृत्वा राजसं त्यागं नैव त्यागफलं लभेत्
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duḥkham — troublesome
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ity — as
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eva — certainly
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yat — which
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karma — duties
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kāya-kleśha-bhayāt — out of fear of bodily discomfort
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kāya — bodily
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kleśha — discomfort
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bhayāt — out of fear
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tyajet — giving up
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sa — they
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kṛitvā — having done
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rājasaṁ — in the mode of passion
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tyāgaṁ — renunciation of desire
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naiva — certainly never
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na — never
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eva — certainly
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tyāga-phalaṁ — result of renouncing desire for fruit of actions
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tyāga — renunciation of desire
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phalaṁ — fruits, results
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labhet — attain
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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Having a body makes it is impossible to completely give up action. The truly renounced are those who relinquish the fruit of their actions.
- Verse 18.11
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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.
- Verse 18.12
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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 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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A wise person of true renunciation does not avoid disagreeable work, nor seek out agreeable work.
- Verse 18.10