Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 - The Yoga of Liberation by Renunciation

The Yoga of Liberation by Renunciation is the heading of Chapter 18 in the Bhagavad Gita.


Click here for second video clip of translation of chapter 18


Click here for the last video clip of translation of chapter 18

In the Bhagavad Gita - Text and Commentary by Sri Sivananda (Sivananda Press Durban SA) the discourse (summary) is as follows:

The eighteenth discourse, which is the conclusion of the divine discourse of Lord Krishna is in many ways a summary of the foregoing portions of the Gita. It covers in brief numerous important points dealt with in the previous discourses. Here you behold the ultimate result or effect of the Lord's discourse to Arjuna . The drama of Arjuna's utter despondency and breakdown is finally resolved in triumphant self-mastery, strength and bold resoluteness. Its central message emerge as an assurance that in and through the performance of one's respective duties in life one can quality for the highest liberation, if one performs actions by renouncing egoism and attachment and surrendering all desire for selfish, personal gain. By regarding the performance of your duties as a worship offered to God, you obtain the Grace of the Lord and attain the eternal One.

Significantly, this discourse opens with a question by Arjuna asking what is true Sannyasa and true Tyaga (renunciation). In reply to this important and crucial query, the blessed Lord Krishna makes it clear to us that real Sannyasa or renunciation lies in renunciation of selfish and impure actions, and even more in the renunciation of the desire or greed for the fruits of anly action. Very clearly we are told that selfless and virtuous actions and actions conducive to the welfare of others should not be abandoned. You must engage yourself in performing such action but renouncing attachment and greed. The true and proper renunciation is giving up of selfishness and attachment while performing one's legitimate duties. This is called Sattwic Tyaga. We neither hate unpleasant action nor are we attached to pleasurable action. As it is not possible for you to renounce all action, the renunciation of egoism, selfishness and attachment in your activity is declared as true renunciation. Karma does not accumulate and bind one who is thus established in such inner renunciation.

The divine injunction is that God must be made the sole object of one's life. This is the heart of the Gita gospel. This the central message in its teaching. This is the one way to your welfare here.

Now Sanjaya concludes his narrative by declaring that where there is such obedience as that of Arjuna, and such willing readiness to carry out the divine teachings, there surely prosperity, victory, glory and all blessedness will prevail.

18.1 - arjuna uvacasannyasasya maha-bahotattvam icchami veditumtyagasya ca hrishikeshaprithak kesi-nisudana - "Arjuna said: O mighty-armed one, I wish to understand the purpose of renunciation [tyaga] and of the renounced order of life [sannyasa], O killer of the Keshi demon, master of the senses."

18.2 - sri-bhagavan uvacakamyanam karmanam nyasamsannyasam kavayo viduhsarva-karma-phala-tyagamprahus tyagam vicakshanah - "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 [sannyasa]. And giving up the results of all activities is what the wise call renunciation [tyaga]."

18.3 - tyajyam dosa-vad ity ekekarma prahur manisinahyajna-dana-tapah-karmana tyajyam iti capare - "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."

18.4 - niscayam shrinu me tatratyage bharata-sattamatyago hi purusha-vyaghratri-vidhah samprakirtitah - "O best of the Bharatas, now hear My judgment about renunciation. O tiger among men, renunciation is declared in the scriptures to be of three kinds."

18.5 - yajna-dana-tapah-karmana tyajyam karyam eva tatyajno danam tapascaivapavanani manisinam "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."

18.6 - etany api tu karmanisangam tyaktva phalani cakartavyaniti me parthaniscitam 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 Pritha. That is My final opinion."

18.7 - niyatasya tu sannyasahkarmano nopapadyatemohat tasya parityagastamasah parikirtitah - "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."

18.8 - duhkham ity eva yat karmakaya-klesa-bhayat tyajetsa kritva rajasam tyagamnaiva tyaga-phalam 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."

18.9 - karyam ity eva yat karmaniyatam kriyate ’rjunasangam tyaktva phalam caivasa tyagah sattviko matah - "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."

18.10 - na dvesty akusalam karmakusale nanusajjatetyagi sattva-samavistomedhavi chinna-samsayah - "The intelligent renouncer situated in the mode of goodness, neither hateful of inauspicious work nor attached to auspicious work, has no doubts about work."