BG 18.9
Pure renunciation is performing one's prescribed duties without any personal desire to act or the motivation of any reward.
सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलं चैव स त्यागः सात्त्विको मतः
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kāryam — as a duty
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ity — as
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eva — certainly
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yat — which
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karma — actions
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niyataṁ — obligatory
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kriyate — are performed
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‘rjuna — Arjuna
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saṅgaṁ — attachment
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tyaktvā — relinquishing
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phalaṁ — reward
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chaiva — and certainly
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cha — and
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eva — certainly
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sa — such
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tyāgaḥ — renunciation of desires for enjoying the fruits of actions
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sāttviko — in the quality of purity
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mataḥ — considered
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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A pure sacrifice is one which is made with firm conviction, without desire for reward, in accordance with the commands of the scriptures.
- Verse 17.11
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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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One whose mind is entirely detached, who has conquered the self and is free from desire, attains through renunciation the supreme perfection and freedom from action.
- Verse 18.49
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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