Chapter 18, Verse 3 (Bhagavad Gita 18.3)
Chapter 18: Mokṣha Sanyās Yog – Yoga through the Perfection of Renunciation and Surrender
Sanskrit Shloka
त्याज्यं दोषवदित्येके कर्म प्राहुर्मनीषिणः। यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यमिति चापरे
Transliteration
tyājyaṁ doṣha-vad ity eke karma prāhur manīṣhiṇaḥ yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-karma na tyājyam iti chāpare
Word Meanings
tyājyam—should be given up; doṣha-vat—as evil; iti—thus; eke—some; karma—actions; prāhuḥ—declare; manīṣhiṇaḥ—the learned; yajña—sacrifice; dāna—charity; tapaḥ—penance; karma—acts; na—never; tyājyam—should be abandoned; iti—thus; cha—and; apare—others
Translation
Some philosophers declare that action is to be abandoned as an evil, while others maintain that the acts of sacrifice, charity, and penance should never be relinquished.
Meaning & Commentary
In this verse, Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, begins to clarify the nature of renunciation for His devotee, Arjuna. Shri Krishna addresses the confusion regarding whether one must physically renounce the world or perform duty as an offering to Him. By presenting these two opposing schools of thought, the Supreme Lord invites the seeker to understand that while action may be fraught with imperfection, the performance of sacrifice, charity, and austerity purifies the soul. Lord Krishna establishes that true liberation is not the rejection of duty, but the surrender of the ego. Ultimately, by following the path of selfless action ordained by Shri Krishna, the soul attains the eternal wisdom required for liberation.