BG 18: Conclusion — The Perfection of Renunciation
1
arjuna uvāca
sannyāsasya mahā-bāho
tattvam icchāmi veditum
tyāgasya ca hṛṣīkeśa
pṛthak keśī-niṣūdana
Arjuna said: O mighty-armed one, I wish to understand the purpose of renunciation [tyāga] and of the renounced order of life [sannyāsa], O killer of the Keśī demon, master of the senses.
2
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
kāmyānāḿ karmaṇāḿ nyāsaḿ
sannyāsaḿ kavayo viduḥ
sarva-karma-phala-tyāgaḿ
prāhus tyāgaḿ vicakṣaṇāḥ
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: The giving up of activities that are based on material desire is what great learned men call the renounced order of life [sannyāsa]. And giving up the results of all activities is what the wise call renunciation [tyāga].
3
tyājyaḿ doṣa-vad ity eke
karma prāhur manīṣiṇaḥ
yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-karma
na tyājyam iti cāpare
Some learned men declare that all kinds of fruitive activities should be given up as faulty, yet other sages maintain that acts of sacrifice, charity and penance should never be abandoned.
4
niścayaḿ śṛṇu me tatra
tyāge bharata-sattama
tyāgo hi puruṣa-vyāghra
tri-vidhaḥ samprakīrtitaḥ
O best of the Bhāratas, now hear My judgment about renunciation. O tiger among men, renunciation is declared in the scriptures to be of three kinds.
5
yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-karma
na tyājyaḿ kāryam eva tat
yajño dānaḿ tapaś caiva
pāvanāni manīṣiṇām
Acts of sacrifice, charity and penance are not to be given up; they must be performed. Indeed, sacrifice, charity and penance purify even the great souls.
6
etāny api tu karmāṇi
sańgaḿ tyaktvā phalāni ca
kartavyānīti me pārtha
niścitaḿ matam uttamam
All these activities should be performed without attachment or any expectation of result. They should be performed as a matter of duty, O son of Pṛthā. That is My final opinion.
7
niyatasya tu sannyāsaḥ
karmaṇo nopapadyate
mohāt tasya parityāgas
tāmasaḥ parikīrtitaḥ
Prescribed duties should never be renounced. If one gives up his prescribed duties because of illusion, such renunciation is said to be in the mode of ignorance.
8
duḥkham ity eva yat karma
kāya-kleśa-bhayāt tyajet
sa kṛtvā rājasaḿ tyāgaḿ
naiva tyāga-phalaḿ labhet
Anyone who gives up prescribed duties as troublesome or out of fear of bodily discomfort is said to have renounced in the mode of passion. Such action never leads to the elevation of renunciation.
9
kāryam ity eva yat karma
niyataḿ kriyate 'rjuna
sańgaḿ tyaktvā phalaḿ caiva
sa tyāgaḥ sāttviko mataḥ
O Arjuna, when one performs his prescribed duty only because it ought to be done, and renounces all material association and all attachment to the fruit, his renunciation is said to be in the mode of goodness.
10
na dveṣṭy akuśalaḿ karma
kuśale nānuṣajjate
tyāgī sattva-samāviṣṭo
medhāvī chinna-saḿśayaḥ
The intelligent renouncer situated in the mode of goodness, neither hateful of inauspicious work nor attached to auspicious work, has no doubts about work.
11
na hi deha-bhṛtā śakyaḿ
tyaktuḿ karmāṇy aśeṣataḥ
yas tu karma-phala-tyāgī
sa tyāgīty abhidhīyate
It is indeed impossible for an embodied being to give up all activities. But he who renounces the fruits of action is called one who has truly renounced.
12
aniṣṭam iṣṭaḿ miśraḿ ca
tri-vidhaḿ karmaṇaḥ phalam
bhavaty atyāgināḿ pretya
na tu sannyāsināḿ kvacit
For one who is not renounced, the threefold fruits of action — desirable, undesirable and mixed — accrue after death. But those who are in the renounced order of life have no such result to suffer or enjoy.
13
pañcaitāni mahā-bāho
kāraṇāni nibodha me
sāńkhye kṛtānte proktāni
siddhaye sarva-karmaṇām
O mighty-armed Arjuna, according to the Vedānta there are five causes for the accomplishment of all action. Now learn of these from Me.
14
adhiṣṭhānaḿ tathā kartā
karaṇaḿ ca pṛthag-vidham
vividhāś ca pṛthak ceṣṭā
daivaḿ caivātra pañcamam
The place of action [the body], the performer, the various senses, the many different kinds of endeavor, and ultimately the Supersoul — these are the five factors of action.
15
śarīra-vāń-manobhir yat
karma prārabhate naraḥ
nyāyyaḿ vā viparītaḿ vā
pañcaite tasya hetavaḥ
Whatever right or wrong action a man performs by body, mind or speech is caused by these five factors.
16
tatraivaḿ sati kartāram
ātmānaḿ kevalaḿ tu yaḥ
paśyaty akṛta-buddhitvān
na sa paśyati durmatiḥ
Therefore one who thinks himself the only doer, not considering the five factors, is certainly not very intelligent and cannot see things as they are.
17
yasya nāhańkṛto bhāvo
buddhir yasya na lipyate
hatvāpi sa imān lokān
na hanti na nibadhyate
One who is not motivated by false ego, whose intelligence is not entangled, though he kills men in this world, does not kill. Nor is he bound by his actions.
18
jñānaḿ jñeyaḿ parijñātā
tri-vidhā karma-codanā
karaṇaḿ karma karteti
tri-vidhaḥ karma-sańgrahaḥ
Knowledge, the object of knowledge, and the knower are the three factors that motivate action; the senses, the work and the doer are the three constituents of action.
19
jñānaḿ karma ca kartā ca
tridhaiva guṇa-bhedataḥ
procyate guṇa-sańkhyāne
yathāvac chṛṇu tāny api
According to the three different modes of material nature, there are three kinds of knowledge, action and performer of action. Now hear of them from Me.
20
sarva-bhūteṣu yenaikaḿ
bhāvam avyayam īkṣate
avibhaktaḿ vibhakteṣu
taj jñānaḿ viddhi sāttvikam
That knowledge by which one undivided spiritual nature is seen in all living entities, though they are divided into innumerable forms, you should understand to be in the mode of goodness.
21
pṛthaktvena tu yaj jñānaḿ
nānā-bhāvān pṛthag-vidhān
vetti sarveṣu bhūteṣu
taj jñānaḿ viddhi rājasam
That knowledge by which one sees that in every different body there is a different type of living entity you should understand to be in the mode of passion.
22
yat tu kṛtsna-vad ekasmin
kārye saktam ahaitukam
atattvārtha-vad alpaḿ ca
tat tāmasam udāhṛtam
And that knowledge by which one is attached to one kind of work as the all in all, without knowledge of the truth, and which is very meager, is said to be in the mode of darkness.
23
niyataḿ sańga-rahitam
arāga-dveṣataḥ kṛtam
aphala-prepsunā karma
yat tat sāttvikam ucyate
That action which is regulated and which is performed without attachment, without love or hatred, and without desire for fruitive results is said to be in the mode of goodness.
24
yat tu kāmepsunā karma
sāhańkāreṇa vā punaḥ
kriyate bahulāyāsaḿ
tad rājasam udāhṛtam
But action performed with great effort by one seeking to gratify his desires, and enacted from a sense of false ego, is called action in the mode of passion.
25
anubandhaḿ kṣayaḿ hiḿsām
anapekṣya ca pauruṣam
mohād ārabhyate karma
yat tat tāmasam ucyate
That action performed in illusion, in disregard of scriptural injunctions, and without concern for future bondage or for violence or distress caused to others is said to be in the mode of ignorance.
26
mukta-sańgo 'nahaḿ-vādī
dhṛty-utsāha-samanvitaḥ
siddhy-asiddhyor nirvikāraḥ
kartā sāttvika ucyate
One who performs his duty without association with the modes of material nature, without false ego, with great determination and enthusiasm, and without wavering in success or failure is said to be a worker in the mode of goodness.
27
rāgī karma-phala-prepsur
lubdho hiḿsātmako 'śuciḥ
harṣa-śokānvitaḥ kartā
rājasaḥ parikīrtitaḥ
The worker who is attached to work and the fruits of work, desiring to enjoy those fruits, and who is greedy, always envious, impure, and moved by joy and sorrow, is said to be in the mode of passion.
28
ayuktaḥ prākṛtaḥ stabdhaḥ
śaṭho naiṣkṛtiko 'lasaḥ
viṣādī dīrgha-sūtrī ca
kartā tāmasa ucyate
The worker who is always engaged in work against the injunctions of the scripture, who is materialistic, obstinate, cheating and expert in insulting others, and who is lazy, always morose and procrastinating is said to be a worker in the mode of ignorance.
29
buddher bhedaḿ dhṛteś caiva
guṇatas tri-vidhaḿ śṛṇu
procyamānam aśeṣeṇa
pṛthaktvena dhanañjaya
O winner of wealth, now please listen as I tell you in detail of the different kinds of understanding and determination, according to the three modes of material nature.
30
pravṛttiḿ ca nivṛttiḿ ca
kāryākārye bhayābhaye
bandhaḿ mokṣaḿ ca yā vetti
buddhiḥ sā pārtha sāttvikī
O son of Pṛthā, that understanding by which one knows what ought to be done and what ought not to be done, what is to be feared and what is not to be feared, what is binding and what is liberating, is in the mode of goodness.
31
yayā dharmam adharmaḿ ca
kāryaḿ cākāryam eva ca
ayathāvat prajānāti
buddhiḥ sā pārtha rājasī
O son of Pṛthā, that understanding which cannot distinguish between religion and irreligion, between action that should be done and action that should not be done, is in the mode of passion.
32
adharmaḿ dharmam iti yā
manyate tamasāvṛtā
sarvārthān viparītāḿś ca
buddhiḥ sā pārtha tāmasī
That understanding which considers irreligion to be religion and religion to be irreligion, under the spell of illusion and darkness, and strives always in the wrong direction, O Pārtha, is in the mode of ignorance.
33
dhṛtyā yayā dhārayate
manaḥ-prāṇendriya-kriyāḥ
yogenāvyabhicāriṇyā
dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha sāttvikī
O son of Pṛthā, that determination which is unbreakable, which is sustained with steadfastness by yoga practice, and which thus controls the activities of the mind, life and senses is determination in the mode of goodness.
34
yayā tu dharma-kāmārthān
dhṛtyā dhārayate 'rjuna
prasańgena phalākāńkṣī
dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha rājasī
But that determination by which one holds fast to fruitive results in religion, economic development and sense gratification is of the nature of passion, O Arjuna.
35
yayā svapnaḿ bhayaḿ śokaḿ
viṣādaḿ madam eva ca
na vimuñcati durmedhā
dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha tāmasī
And that determination which cannot go beyond dreaming, fearfulness, lamentation, moroseness and illusion — such unintelligent determination, O son of Pṛthā, is in the mode of darkness.
36
sukhaḿ tv idānīḿ tri-vidhaḿ
śṛṇu me bharatarṣabha
abhyāsād ramate yatra
duḥkhāntaḿ ca nigacchati
O best of the Bhāratas, now please hear from Me about the three kinds of happiness by which the conditioned soul enjoys, and by which he sometimes comes to the end of all distress.
37
yat tad agre viṣam iva
pariṇāme 'mṛtopamam
tat sukhaḿ sāttvikaḿ proktam
ātma-buddhi-prasāda-jam
That which in the beginning may be just like poison but at the end is just like nectar and which awakens one to self-realization is said to be happiness in the mode of goodness.
38
viṣayendriya-saḿyogād
yat tad agre 'mṛtopamam
pariṇāme viṣam iva
tat sukhaḿ rājasaḿ smṛtam
That happiness which is derived from contact of the senses with their objects and which appears like nectar at first but poison at the end is said to be of the nature of passion.
39
yad agre cānubandhe ca
sukhaḿ mohanam ātmanaḥ
nidrālasya-pramādotthaḿ
tat tāmasam udāhṛtam
And that happiness which is blind to self-realization, which is delusion from beginning to end and which arises from sleep, laziness and illusion is said to be of the nature of ignorance.
40
na tad asti pṛthivyāḿ vā
divi deveṣu vā punaḥ
sattvaḿ prakṛti-jair muktaḿ
yad ebhiḥ syāt tribhir guṇaiḥ
There is no being existing, either here or among the demigods in the higher planetary systems, which is freed from these three modes born of material nature.
41
brāhmaṇa-kṣatriya-viśāḿ
śūdrāṇāḿ ca parantapa
karmāṇi pravibhaktāni
svabhāva-prabhavair guṇaiḥ
Brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras
are distinguished by the qualities
born of their own natures
in accordance with the material
modes, O chastiser of the
enemy.
42
śamo damas tapaḥ śaucaḿ
kṣāntir ārjavam eva ca
jñānaḿ vijñānam āstikyaḿ
brahma-karma svabhāva-jam
Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and religiousness — these are the natural qualities by which the brāhmaṇas work.
43
śauryaḿ tejo dhṛtir dākṣyaḿ
yuddhe cāpy apalāyanam
dānam īśvara-bhāvaś ca
kṣātraḿ karma svabhāva-jam
Heroism, power, determination, resourcefulness, courage in battle, generosity and leadership are the natural qualities of work for the kṣatriyas.
44
kṛṣi-go-rakṣya-vāṇijyaḿ
vaiśya-karma svabhāva-jam
paricaryātmakaḿ karma
śūdrasyāpi svabhāva-jam
Farming, cow protection and business are the natural work for the vaiśyas, and for the śūdras there is labor and service to others.
45
sve sve karmaṇy abhirataḥ
saḿsiddhiḿ labhate naraḥ
sva-karma-nirataḥ siddhiḿ
yathā vindati tac chṛṇu
By following his qualities of work, every man can become perfect. Now please hear from Me how this can be done.
46
yataḥ pravṛttir bhūtānāḿ
yena sarvam idaḿ tatam
sva-karmaṇā tam abhyarcya
siddhiḿ vindati mānavaḥ
By worship of the Lord, who is the source of all beings and who is all- pervading, a man can attain perfection through performing his own work.
47
śreyān sva-dharmo viguṇaḥ
para-dharmāt sv-anuṣṭhitāt
svabhāva-niyataḿ karma
kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣam
It is better to engage in one's own occupation, even though one may perform it imperfectly, than to accept another's occupation and perform it perfectly. Duties prescribed according to one's nature are never affected by sinful reactions.
48
saha-jaḿ karma kaunteya
sa-doṣam api na tyajet
sarvārambhā hi doṣeṇa
dhūmenāgnir ivāvṛtāḥ
Every endeavor is covered by some fault, just as fire is covered by smoke. Therefore one should not give up the work born of his nature, O son of Kuntī, even if such work is full of fault.
49
asakta-buddhiḥ sarvatra
jitātmā vigata-spṛhaḥ
naiṣkarmya-siddhiḿ paramāḿ
sannyāsenādhigacchati
One who is self-controlled and unattached and who disregards all material enjoyments can obtain, by practice of renunciation, the highest perfect stage of freedom from reaction.
50
siddhiḿ prāpto yathā brahma
tathāpnoti nibodha me
samāsenaiva kaunteya
niṣṭhā jñānasya yā parā
O son of Kuntī, learn from Me how one who has achieved this perfection can attain to the supreme perfectional stage, Brahman, the stage of highest knowledge, by acting in the way I shall now summarize.
51-53
buddhyā viśuddhayā yukto
dhṛtyātmānaḿ niyamya ca
śabdādīn viṣayāḿs tyaktvā
rāga-dveṣau vyudasya ca
vivikta-sevī laghv-āśī
yata-vāk-kāya-mānasaḥ
dhyāna-yoga-paro nityaḿ
vairāgyaḿ samupāśritaḥ
ahańkāraḿ balaḿ darpaḿ
kāmaḿ krodhaḿ parigraham
vimucya nirmamaḥ śānto
brahma-bhūyāya kalpate
Being purified by his intelligence and controlling the mind with determination, giving up the objects of sense gratification, being freed from attachment and hatred, one who lives in a secluded place, who eats little, who controls his body, mind and power of speech, who is always in trance and who is detached, free from false ego, false strength, false pride, lust, anger, and acceptance of material things, free from false proprietorship, and peaceful — such a person is certainly elevated to the position of self-realization.
54
brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā
na śocati na kāńkṣati
samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu
mad-bhaktiḿ labhate parām
One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything. He is equally disposed toward every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.
55
bhaktyā mām abhijānāti
yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ
tato māḿ tattvato jñātvā
viśate tad-anantaram
One can understand Me as I am, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of Me by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God.
56
sarva-karmāṇy api sadā
kurvāṇo mad-vyapāśrayaḥ
mat-prasādād avāpnoti
śāśvataḿ padam avyayam
Though engaged in all kinds of activities, My pure devotee, under My protection, reaches the eternal and imperishable abode by My grace.
57
cetasā sarva-karmāṇi
mayi sannyasya mat-paraḥ
buddhi-yogam upāśritya
mac-cittaḥ satataḿ bhava
In all activities just depend upon Me and work always under My protection. In such devotional service, be fully conscious of Me.
58
mac-cittaḥ sarva-durgāṇi
mat-prasādāt tariṣyasi
atha cet tvam ahańkārān
na śroṣyasi vinańkṣyasi
If you become conscious of Me, you will pass over all the obstacles of conditioned life by My grace. If, however, you do not work in such consciousness but act through false ego, not hearing Me, you will be lost.
59
yad ahańkāram āśritya
na yotsya iti manyase
mithyaiṣa vyavasāyas te
prakṛtis tvāḿ niyokṣyati
If you do not act according to My direction and do not fight, then you will be falsely directed. By your nature, you will have to be engaged in warfare.
60
svabhāva-jena kaunteya
nibaddhaḥ svena karmaṇā
kartuḿ necchasi yan mohāt
kariṣyasy avaśo 'pi tat
Under illusion you are now declining to act according to My direction. But, compelled by the work born of your own nature, you will act all the same, O son of Kuntī.
61
īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāḿ
hṛd-deśe 'rjuna tiṣṭhati
bhrāmayan sarva-bhūtāni
yantrārūḍhāni māyayā
The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy.
62
tam eva śaraṇaḿ gaccha
sarva-bhāvena bhārata
tat-prasādāt parāḿ śāntiḿ
sthānaḿ prāpsyasi śāśvatam
O scion of Bharata, surrender unto Him utterly. By His grace you will attain transcendental peace and the supreme and eternal abode.
63
iti te jñānam ākhyātaḿ
guhyād guhyataraḿ mayā
vimṛśyaitad aśeṣeṇa
yathecchasi tathā kuru
Thus I have explained to you knowledge still more confidential. Deliberate on this fully, and then do what you wish to do.
64
sarva-guhyatamaḿ bhūyaḥ
śṛṇu me paramaḿ vacaḥ
iṣṭo 'si me dṛḍham iti
tato vakṣyāmi te hitam
Because you are My very dear friend, I am speaking to you My supreme instruction, the most confidential knowledge of all. Hear this from Me, for it is for your benefit.
65
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māḿ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaḿ te
pratijāne priyo 'si me
Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.
66
sarva-dharmān parityajya
mām ekaḿ śaraṇaḿ vraja
ahaḿ tvāḿ sarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ
Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.
67
idaḿ te nātapaskāya
nābhaktāya kadācana
na cāśuśrūṣave vācyaḿ
na ca māḿ yo 'bhyasūyati
This confidential knowledge may never be explained to those who are not austere, or devoted, or engaged in devotional service, nor to one who is envious of Me.
68
ya idaḿ paramaḿ guhyaḿ
mad-bhakteṣv abhidhāsyati
bhaktiḿ mayi parāḿ kṛtvā
mām evaiṣyaty asaḿśayaḥ
For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, pure devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me.
69
na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu
kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ
bhavitā na ca me tasmād
anyaḥ priyataro bhuvi
There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.
70
adhyeṣyate ca ya imaḿ
dharmyaḿ saḿvādam āvayoḥ
jñāna-yajñena tenāham
iṣṭaḥ syām iti me matiḥ
And I declare that he who studies this sacred conversation of ours worships Me by his intelligence.
71
śraddhāvān anasūyaś ca
śṛṇuyād api yo naraḥ
so 'pi muktaḥ śubhāl lokān
prāpnuyāt puṇya-karmaṇām
And one who listens with faith and without envy becomes free from sinful reactions and attains to the auspicious planets where the pious dwell.
72
kaccid etac chrutaḿ pārtha
tvayaikāgreṇa cetasā
kaccid ajñāna-sammohaḥ
praṇaṣṭas te dhanañjaya
O son of Pṛthā, O conqueror of wealth, have you heard this with an attentive mind? And are your ignorance and illusions now dispelled?
73
arjuna uvāca
naṣṭo mohaḥ smṛtir labdhā
tvat-prasādān mayācyuta
sthito 'smi gata-sandehaḥ
kariṣye vacanaḿ tava
Arjuna said: My dear Kṛṣṇa, O infallible one, my illusion is now gone. I have regained my memory by Your mercy. I am now firm and free from doubt and am prepared to act according to Your instructions.
74
sañjaya uvāca
ity ahaḿ vāsudevasya
pārthasya ca mahātmanaḥ
saḿvādam imam aśrauṣam
adbhutaḿ roma-harṣaṇam
Sañjaya said: Thus have I heard the conversation of two great souls, Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna. And so wonderful is that message that my hair is standing on end.
75
vyāsa-prasādāc chrutavān
etad guhyam ahaḿ param
yogaḿ yogeśvarāt kṛṣṇāt
sākṣāt kathayataḥ svayam
By the mercy of Vyāsa, I have heard these most confidential talks directly from the master of all mysticism, Kṛṣṇa, who was speaking personally to Arjuna.
76
rājan saḿsmṛtya saḿsmṛtya
saḿvādam imam adbhutam
keśavārjunayoḥ puṇyaḿ
hṛṣyāmi ca muhur muhuḥ
O King, as I repeatedly recall this wondrous and holy dialogue between Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, I take pleasure, being thrilled at every moment.
77
tac ca saḿsmṛtya saḿsmṛtya
rūpam aty-adbhutaḿ hareḥ
vismayo me mahān rājan
hṛṣyāmi ca punaḥ punaḥ
O King, as I remember the wonderful form of Lord Kṛṣṇa, I am struck with wonder more and more, and I rejoice again and again.
78
yatra yogeśvaraḥ kṛṣṇo
yatra pārtho dhanur-dharaḥ
tatra śrīr vijayo bhūtir
dhruvā nītir matir mama
Wherever there is Kṛṣṇa, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion.
