🕊️ Chapter 18 – Liberation Through Renunciation (Shlokas 1–11) | Should I Act or Let Go?
Shloka 1 – Arjuna’s Final Question
Sanskrit:
अर्जुन उवाच
संन्यासस्य महाबाहो तत्त्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम्।
त्यागस्य च हृषीकेश पृथक्केशिनिषूदन॥
Hindi Translation:
अर्जुन ने कहा: हे महाबाहो (कृष्ण), मैं संन्यास और त्याग का वास्तविक तत्त्व जानना चाहता हूँ।
English Translation:
Arjuna said: O mighty-armed Krishna, I wish to understand the truth of renunciation (sannyāsa) and of renouncing the fruits of action (tyāga) separately.
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Arjuna asks the most timeless question: *Should I act or withdraw?* This isn't mere philosophy—it's **everyone's dilemma** in life decisions.
🪔 Modern Insight:
Is peace found in quitting everything? Or in letting go **while still engaging**? Krishna will guide us to the **middle path**.
Shloka 2 – Krishna Answers: Two Paths
Sanskrit:
श्रीभगवानुवाच
काम्यानां कर्मणां न्यासं संन्यासं कवयो विदु:।
सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं प्राहुस्त्यागं विचक्षणा:॥
Hindi Translation:
भगवान बोले: ज्ञानीजन कामना-पूर्ण कर्मों का त्याग 'संन्यास' और सभी कर्मों के फलों का त्याग 'त्याग' कहते हैं।
English Translation:
The Blessed Lord said: The wise understand sannyāsa as renunciation of desire-driven actions, and tyāga as renunciation of attachment to all results.
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Krishna distinguishes: **Sannyasa** = giving up desire-based acts. **Tyaga** = giving up expectation. One leaves **what**, the other leaves **why**.
🪔 Modern Insight:
You don’t need to quit your job to be spiritual. Just drop the ego and craving tied to outcomes. That's **living Tyaga**.
Shloka 3 – Debates Around Renunciation
Sanskrit:
त्याज्यं दोषवदित्येके कर्म प्राहुर्मनीषिण:।
यज्ञदानतप:कर्म न त्याज्यमिति चापरे॥
Hindi Translation:
कुछ विद्वान कहते हैं कि कर्म दोषयुक्त हैं, इसलिए उनका त्याग करना चाहिए। अन्य कहते हैं कि यज्ञ, दान और तप जैसे कर्मों का त्याग नहीं करना चाहिए।
English Translation:
Some sages say action should be renounced as inherently flawed. Others declare that acts like sacrifice, charity, and penance should not be abandoned.
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Even spiritual circles debate this: *Is karma a burden or a path?* Krishna will soon resolve it with **clarity and compassion**.
🪔 Modern Insight:
Don’t fall for extremes. Spiritual growth doesn’t mean leaving life—it means **living rightly, lightly, and wisely.**
Shloka 4 – Krishna Clarifies Tyaga
Sanskrit:
निष्कर्मणं न कर्तव्यं त्याज्यं कर्म नो एव तत्।
त्यागं प्राहुर्मुनय: प्राज्ञा: सत्त्वसंभावितं॥
Hindi Translation:
ज्ञानी मुनि कहते हैं कि त्याग का अर्थ कर्तव्य का त्याग नहीं है, बल्कि उसे सात्त्विक भाव से करना है।
English Translation:
The wise declare that duty-bound actions should not be abandoned, but performed without attachment and selfish desire—that is Sattvic renunciation.
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Krishna emphasizes: **Right action matters**—but with the right mindset. Don’t run from duty. Rise above the desire for rewards.
🪔 Modern Insight:
True detachment isn’t quitting. It’s **showing up fully, without clinging to the outcome.**
Shlokas 5–6 – Never Abandon These
Sanskrit:
यज्ञदानतप:कर्म न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत्।
यज्ञो दानं तपश्चैव पावनानि मनीषिणाम्॥
एतान्यपि तु कर्माणि संगं त्यक्त्वा फलानि च।
कर्तव्यानीति मे पार्थ निश्चितं मतमुत्तमम्॥
Hindi Translation:
यज्ञ, दान और तप — ये त्याज्य नहीं हैं। इन्हें फल की आकांक्षा छोड़कर करना चाहिए। यह मेरा श्रेष्ठ मत है।
English Translation:
Sacrifice, charity, and penance should never be given up. They purify the wise. But they must be performed without attachment or craving for result. This is My supreme teaching.
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Purifying actions are meant to **uplift, not bind**. Do them—but with detachment. This is Krishna’s sacred middle path.
🪔 Modern Insight:
Don't drop your discipline, generosity, or devotion. Just drop the ego behind them. **Purpose > performance.**
Shloka 7 – False Renunciation
Sanskrit:
नियतस्य तु संन्यास: कर्मणो नोपपद्यते।
मोहात्तस्य परित्यागस्तामस: परिकीर्तित:॥
Hindi Translation:
जो नियत कर्मों का त्याग मोहवश किया जाता है, वह तामसिक त्याग है।
English Translation:
Abandoning one’s prescribed duty due to delusion is considered Tamasic renunciation.
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Escapism isn’t spiritual. If you walk away from responsibility because it’s uncomfortable, that’s **not wisdom — it’s Tamas.**
🪔 Modern Insight:
Running away from challenge ≠ peace. Face your dharma — not for pressure, but **because it’s your path.**
Shloka 8 – Rajasic Renunciation
Sanskrit:
दु:खमित्येव यत्कर्म कायक्लेशभयात्त्यजेत्।
स कृत्वा राजसं त्यागं नैव त्यागफलं लभेत्॥
Hindi Translation:
जो कार्य केवल कष्ट या थकावट के डर से छोड़ा जाता है, वह राजसिक त्याग है और उससे मुक्ति नहीं मिलती।
English Translation:
If an action is renounced merely because it is troublesome or painful, that is Rajasic renunciation and does not yield liberation.
🔍 Deep Reflection:
When you avoid effort, you forfeit evolution. Discomfort is not always a sign to quit—it may be **the very fire that purifies you.**
🪔 Modern Insight:
Don’t mistake **inconvenience for misalignment**. Growth isn’t always comfortable—but it’s honest.
Shloka 9 – Sattvic Renunciation
Sanskrit:
कार्यमित्येव यत्कर्म नियतं क्रियतेऽर्जुन।
संगं त्यक्त्वा फलं चैव स त्याग: सात्त्विको मत:॥
Hindi Translation:
जो नियत कर्म केवल कर्तव्य समझकर, आसक्ति और फल की इच्छा छोड़कर किया जाता है, वह सात्त्विक त्याग है।
English Translation:
Prescribed duty performed simply because it must be done, with no attachment to results or selfish motive—this is Sattvic renunciation.
🔍 Deep Reflection:
This is the Gita's core message: **act without ego**. Your dharma is not about reward — it’s about **integrity.**
🪔 Modern Insight:
Do what’s right, not what’s easy or profitable. This isn’t giving up — it’s **growing up.**
Shlokas 10–11 – The Wise Tyagi
Sanskrit:
न द्वेष्ट्यकुशलं कर्म कुशले नानुषज्जते।
त्यागी सत्त्वसमाविष्टो मेधावी छिन्नसंशय:॥
न हि देहभृता शक्यं त्यक्तुं कर्माण्यशेषत:।
यस्तु कर्मफलत्यागी स त्यागीत्यभिधीयते॥
Hindi Translation:
सात्त्विक त्यागी न अच्छे कर्मों से आसक्त होता है, न बुरे से द्वेष करता है। संदेह रहित, विवेकी और सात्त्विक होता है। शरीरधारी मनुष्य कर्म को पूरी तरह नहीं त्याग सकता, लेकिन जो फल का त्याग करता है — वही सच्चा त्यागी है।
English Translation:
The Sattvic renouncer is wise, free from doubt, detached from both good and bad outcomes. One cannot entirely give up action while embodied — but renouncing the fruits makes one a true renouncer.
🔍 Deep Reflection:
You’re not meant to escape life. You’re meant to be **in it, but not consumed by it.** Karma continues, but you can be free *within* it.
🪔 Modern Insight:
Liberation doesn’t come from avoiding work—it comes from **emptying ego from work.** Let go, but **show up.**
🧘 Message to Gen Z
- You don’t need to quit life to be spiritual. Just **let go of craving and comparison.**
- Your duty isn’t always fun. But it’s always freeing — when done with clarity.
- Tyaga means doing what matters, without needing applause.
- Peace doesn’t come from escape — it comes from **engagement without ego.**
- You were not born to run away. You were born to **rise wisely.**