श्रीमद्भगवद्गीताShrimad Bhagavad Gita 📖 Read as a flipbook

Chapter 18मोक्षसंन्यासयोगःMoksha Sannyasa Yoga

About this chapter

Tyaga and sannyasa (18.1–18.12). Arjuna's final question (18.1); giving up desire-driven actions = sannyasa, giving up their fruits = tyaga (18.2); two views (18.3); Krishna's conclusion — do not give up sacrifice, charity and austerity; give up attachment and fruits (18.4–18.6); three kinds of relinquishment — out of delusion (tamasic), out of fear of hardship (rajasic), and free of attachment, from "this ought to be done" (sattvic) (18.7–18.10); an embodied being cannot give up action — only one who gives up the fruits is a true renouncer (18.11–18.12).

The five causes of action (18.13–18.17). The seat, the doer, the instruments, the efforts, and the divine (18.13–18.15); to see the Self alone as the doer is wrong understanding (18.16); action does not bind one free of ego — in the context of the war (18.17).

Six comparisons (18.18–18.40). The impulse to action and the constituents of action (18.18–18.19); knowledge (18.20–18.22), action (18.23–18.25), the doer (18.26–18.28), intellect (18.29–18.32), resolve (18.33–18.35), happiness (18.36–18.39) — three forms of each; no one is free of the gunas (18.40).

Action according to one's nature (18.41–18.48). The division of work by gunas born of one's nature (18.41–18.44); worshipping the Lord through one's own work (18.45–18.46); one's own dharma is best; do not abandon the work natural to you even if it has flaws (18.47–18.48).

Perfection and surrender (18.49–18.66). The perfection of actionlessness (18.49); the practice of the state of Brahman (18.50–18.53); become Brahman, equal towards all — supreme devotion (18.54); knowledge of the truth through devotion (18.55); the eternal abode through grace (18.56); mind fixed on Me (18.57–18.58); "I will not fight" — a false resolve; your nature will compel you (18.59–18.60); Ishvara in the heart (18.61); take refuge in Him alone (18.62); vimṛśya … yathecchasi tathā kuru (18.63); the most secret of all — man-manā bhava (18.64–18.65); sarvadharmān parityajya … mā śucaḥ (18.66).

Conclusion (18.67–18.78). To whom it should not be told (18.67); the fruit of teaching it to devotees, of studying it and of hearing it (18.68–18.71); "Has your delusion been destroyed?" (18.72); Arjuna: naṣṭo mohaḥ … kariṣye vacanaṃ tava (18.73); Sanjaya's thrill, the grace of Vyasa, remembering again and again (18.74–18.77); yatra yogeśvaraḥ kṛṣṇo yatra pārtho dhanurdharaḥ (18.78).

AI-assisted draft translation — under review.

78 shlokas

  1. 18.1सन्न्यासस्य महाबाहो तत्त्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम्Arjuna said: "O mighty-armed one, O Hrishikesha, O slayer of Keshi — I wish to know the truth of sannyasa…
  2. 18.2काम्यानां कर्मणां न्यासं सन्न्यासं कवयो विदुःThe Blessed Lord said: "The wise call the giving up of desire-driven (kamya) actions sannyasa, and the discerning call…
  3. 18.3त्याज्यं दोषवदित्येके कर्म प्राहुर्मनीषिणःSome thinkers say that action is to be given up like a fault; and others say that acts of sacrifice, charity and…
  4. 18.4निश्चयं शृणु मे तत्र त्यागे भरतसत्तमO best of the Bharatas, hear My conclusion about tyaga — O tiger among men, tyaga is said to be of three kinds.
  5. 18.5यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत्Acts of sacrifice, charity and austerity should not be given up — they must certainly be done. Sacrifice, charity and…
  6. 18.6एतान्यपि तु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलानि चBut, O Partha, even these actions should be done giving up attachment and fruits — this is My firm and highest view.
  7. 18.7नियतस्य तु सन्न्यासः कर्मणो नोपपद्यतेBut the renunciation of prescribed (niyata) action is not proper; giving it up out of delusion is called tamasic.
  8. 18.8दुःखमित्येव यत् कर्म कायक्लेशभयात् त्यजेत्One who gives up action, regarding it as painful, out of fear of bodily hardship — performing rajasic relinquishment…
  9. 18.9कार्यमित्येव यत् कर्म नियतं क्रियतेऽर्जुनO Arjuna, when prescribed action is done with the attitude 'this ought to be done', giving up attachment and fruit …
  10. 18.10न द्वेष्ट्यकुशलं कर्म कुशले नानुषज्जतेThe relinquisher who is filled with sattva, wise and free of doubt neither hates unpleasant (akushala) action nor is…
  11. 18.11न हि देहभृता शक्यं त्यक्तुं कर्माण्यशेषतःIt is not possible for an embodied being to give up actions completely; but one who gives up the fruit of action — that…
  12. 18.12अनिष्टमिष्टं मिश्रं च त्रिविधं कर्मणः फलम्Unwanted, wanted and mixed — this threefold fruit of action comes after death to those who have not relinquished; never…
  13. 18.13पञ्चैतानि महाबाहो कारणानि निबोध मेO mighty-armed one, learn from Me these five causes for the accomplishment of all actions, as stated in the Sankhya…
  14. 18.14अधिष्ठानं तथा कर्ता करणं च पृथग्विधम्The seat (the body), the doer, the various instruments (the senses), the many separate efforts, and the fifth — the…
  15. 18.15शरीरवाङ्मनोभिर्यत् कर्म प्रारभते नरःWhatever action a person begins with body, speech and mind — whether right or the opposite — these five are its causes.
  16. 18.16तत्रैवं सति कर्तारमात्मानं केवलं तु यःThis being so, one who, because of an untrained intellect, sees the Self alone as the doer — that person of poor…
  17. 18.17यस्य नाहं कृतो भावो बुद्धिर्यस्य न लिप्यतेOne whose attitude is free of ego, whose intellect is not tainted — even killing these people, they neither kill nor…
  18. 18.18ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं परिज्ञाता त्रिविधा कर्मचोदनाKnowledge, the known and the knower — these are the threefold impulse to action; the instrument, the action and the…
  19. 18.19ज्ञानं कर्म च कर्ता च त्रिधैव गुणभेदतःIn the science of the gunas (guna-sankhyana), knowledge, action and the doer are each said to be of three kinds…
  20. 18.20सर्वभूतेषु येनैकं भावमव्ययमीक्षतेThe knowledge by which a person sees one imperishable reality in all beings — the undivided in the divided — know that…
  21. 18.21पृथक्त्वेन तु यज्ज्ञानं नानाभावान् पृथग्विधान्But the knowledge that knows the many different kinds of existence in all beings as separate — know that to be rajasic.
  22. 18.22यत् तु कृत्स्नवदेकस्मिन् कार्ये सक्तमहैतुकम्But the knowledge that clings to a single effect as if it were the whole — without reason, without grasp of the truth…
  23. 18.23नियतं सङ्गरहितमरागद्वेषतः कृतम्Prescribed action done without attachment, without attraction or aversion, by one who does not seek the fruit — that is…
  24. 18.24यत् तु कामेप्सुना कर्म साहङ्कारेण वा पुनःBut action done with the wish to fulfil desires, or with ego, and with great strain — that is called rajasic.
  25. 18.25अनुबन्धं क्षयं हिंसामनपेक्ष्य च पौरुषम्Action begun out of delusion, without considering the consequences, the loss, the harm and one's own capacity — that is…
  26. 18.26मुक्तसङ्गोऽनहंवादी धृत्युत्साहसमन्वितःThe doer who is free from attachment, who does not speak of 'I', who is endowed with resolve and enthusiasm, and…
  27. 18.27रागी कर्मफलप्रेप्सुर्लुब्धो हिंसात्मकोऽशुचिःThe doer who is passionate, who seeks the fruits of action, who is greedy, violent, impure, and swayed by joy and…
  28. 18.28अयुक्तः प्राकृतः स्तब्धः शठो नैकृतिकोऽलसःThe doer who is undisciplined, unrefined (prakrita), obstinate, deceitful, dishonest (naishkritika), lazy, despondent…
  29. 18.29बुद्धेर्भेदं धृतेश्चैव गुणतस्त्रिविधं शृणुO Dhananjaya, now hear the threefold distinction of intellect and of resolve too, according to the gunas — fully and…
  30. 18.30प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च कार्याकार्ये भयाभयेO Partha, the intellect that knows action and withdrawal (pravritti and nivritti), what should and should not be done…
  31. 18.31यया धर्ममधर्मं च कार्यं चाकार्यमेव चO Partha, the intellect by which a person does not rightly know dharma and adharma, what should and should not be done…
  32. 18.32अधर्मं धर्ममिति या मन्यते तमसाऽऽवृताO Partha, the intellect that, covered by tamas, takes adharma to be dharma and sees all things in reverse — that is…
  33. 18.33धृत्या यया धारयते मनःप्राणेन्द्रियक्रियाःO Partha, the unwavering resolve by which a person, through yoga, holds the activities of the mind, the breath (prana)…
  34. 18.34यया तु धर्मकामार्थान् धृत्या धारयतेऽर्जुनBut, O Arjuna, the resolve by which one who desires the fruit holds on, with attachment, to dharma, pleasure (kama) and…
  35. 18.35यया स्वप्नं भयं शोकं विषादं मदमेव चO Partha, the resolve by which a foolish person does not let go of sleep, fear, grief, despondency and intoxication…
  36. 18.36सुखं त्विदानीं त्रिविधं शृणु मे भरतर्षभO best of the Bharatas, now hear from Me about the three kinds of happiness — in which a person comes to delight…
  37. 18.37यत् तदग्रे विषमिव परिणामेऽमृतोपमम्That happiness which is like poison at first but like nectar in the end — born of the clarity of the Self and the…
  38. 18.38विषयेन्द्रियसंयोगाद् यत् तदग्रेऽमृतोपमम्That happiness which comes from the contact of the senses with their objects, like nectar at first but like poison in…
  39. 18.39यदग्रे चानुबन्धे च सुखं मोहनमात्मनःThat happiness which deludes the self both at first and in the end — arising from sleep, laziness and heedlessness — is…
  40. 18.40न तदस्ति पृथिव्यां वा दिवि देवेषु वा पुनःThere is no being on earth, or even among the gods in heaven, that is free from these three gunas born of prakriti.
  41. 18.41ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणां च परन्तपO scorcher of foes, the duties of brahmins, kshatriyas, vaishyas and shudras are divided according to the gunas born of…
  42. 18.42शमो दमस्तपः शौचं क्षान्तिरार्जवमेव चCalm, self-control, austerity, purity, forbearance, uprightness, knowledge, wisdom (vijnana) and faith — these are the…
  43. 18.43शौर्यं तेजो धृतिर्दाक्ष्यं युद्धे चाप्यपलायनम्Valour, vigour, resolve, skill, not fleeing from battle, generosity and lordliness (leadership) — these are the duties…
  44. 18.44कृषिगौरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं वैश्यकर्म स्वभावजम्Farming, protecting cattle and trade are the duties of a vaishya, born of their nature; and work in the form of service…
  45. 18.45स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरःDevoted to their own work, a person attains perfection; hear how one devoted to their own work attains perfection.
  46. 18.46यतः प्रवृत्तिर्भूतानां येन सर्वमिदं ततम्By worshipping through their own work the One from whom all beings arise and by whom all this is pervaded, a person…
  47. 18.47श्रेयान् स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात् स्वनुष्ठितात्Better is one's own dharma, though lacking in merit, than another's dharma well performed; doing the work prescribed by…
  48. 18.48सहजं कर्म कौन्तेय सदोषमपि न त्यजेत्O Kaunteya, one should not give up the work one is born to, even if it has flaws; for all undertakings are covered by…
  49. 18.49असक्तबुद्धिः सर्वत्र जितात्मा विगतस्पृहःOne whose intellect is unattached everywhere, who has mastered the self and is free from craving, attains through…
  50. 18.50सिद्धिं प्राप्तो यथा ब्रह्म तथाऽऽप्नोति निबोध मेO Kaunteya, learn from Me in brief how one who has attained perfection attains Brahman — which is the supreme…
  51. 18.51बुद्‌ध्या विशुद्धया युक्तो धृत्याऽऽत्मानं नियम्य चEndowed with a purified intellect, controlling the mind with resolve, leaving aside sound and the other sense objects…
  52. 18.52विविक्तसेवी लघ्वाशी यतवाक्कायमानसः— dwelling in solitude, eating lightly, keeping speech, body and mind restrained, ever engaged in the yoga of…
  53. 18.53अहङ्कारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं परिग्रहम्Giving up ego, force, arrogance, desire, anger and possessiveness, free from the sense of 'mine' and peaceful, a person…
  54. 18.54ब्रह्मभूतः प्रसन्नात्मा न शोचति न काङ्क्षतिOne who has become Brahman, serene in mind, neither grieves nor desires; being equal towards all beings, they attain…
  55. 18.55भक्त्या मामभिजानाति यावान् यश्चास्मि तत्त्वतःThrough devotion they know Me in truth — how great I am and who I am; then, knowing Me in truth, they enter into Me…
  56. 18.56सर्वकर्माण्यपि सदा कुर्वाणो मद्‌व्यपाश्रयःEven while always doing all actions, one who takes refuge in Me attains, by My grace, the eternal, imperishable abode.
  57. 18.57चेतसा सर्वकर्माणि मयि सन्न्यस्य मत्परःMentally offering all actions to Me, regarding Me as the Supreme, taking refuge in the yoga of the intellect (buddhi…
  58. 18.58मच्चित्तः सर्वदुर्गाणि मत्प्रसादात् तरिष्यसिWith your mind fixed on Me, you will cross all difficulties by My grace; but if out of ego you will not listen, you…
  59. 18.59यदहङ्कारमाश्रित्य न योत्स्य इति मन्यसेIf, relying on ego, you think 'I will not fight' — this resolve of yours is false; your nature will compel you.
  60. 18.60स्वभावजेन कौन्तेय निबद्धः स्वेन कर्मणाO Kaunteya, bound by your own work born of your nature, what you do not wish to do out of delusion, you will do even…
  61. 18.61ईश्वरः सर्वभूतानां हृद्देशेऽर्जुन तिष्ठतिO Arjuna, the Lord dwells in the hearts of all beings — by His maya causing all beings to revolve, as if mounted on a…
  62. 18.62तमेव शरणं गच्छ सर्वभावेन भारतO Bharata, take refuge in Him alone with your whole being; by His grace you will attain supreme peace and the eternal…
  63. 18.63इति ते ज्ञानमाख्यातं गुह्याद् गुह्यतरं मयाThus I have told you knowledge more secret than all secrets. Reflect on it fully, and then do as you wish.
  64. 18.64सर्वगुह्यतमं भूयः शृणु मे परमं वचःHear again My most secret, supreme word — you are dearly loved by Me, so I will tell you what is for your good.
  65. 18.65मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरुFix your mind on Me, be My devotee, worship Me, bow down to Me — you will come to Me alone; I make you a true promise…
  66. 18.66सर्वधर्मान् परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रजGiving up all dharmas, come to Me alone for refuge. I will free you from all sins — do not grieve.
  67. 18.67इदं ते नातपस्काय नाभक्ताय कदाचनThis (knowledge) should never be told by you to one without austerity, to one without devotion, to one who does not…
  68. 18.68य इदं परमं गुह्यं मद्भक्तेष्वभिधास्यतिOne who shares this supreme secret with My devotees, having supreme devotion to Me, will without doubt come to Me alone.
  69. 18.69न च तस्मान्मनुष्येषु कश्चिन्मे प्रियकृत्तमःAmong human beings there is none who does Me dearer service than that person, nor will there be anyone on earth dearer…
  70. 18.70अध्येष्यते च य इमं धर्म्यं संवादमावयोःAnd one who studies this sacred dialogue of ours — by them I shall be worshipped through the sacrifice of knowledge…
  71. 18.71श्रद्धावाननसूयश्च शृणुयादपि यो नरःAnd the person who even listens to it with faith and without a fault-finding attitude — they too, liberated, attain the…
  72. 18.72कच्चिदेतच्छ्रुतं पार्थ त्वयैकाग्रेण चेतसाO Partha, have you heard this with a focused mind? O Dhananjaya, has your delusion born of ignorance been destroyed?
  73. 18.73नष्टो मोहः स्मृतिर्लब्धा त्वत् प्रसादान्मयाऽच्युतArjuna said: "O Achyuta, my delusion is destroyed; by Your grace I have regained my memory (smriti). I stand firm, free…
  74. 18.74इत्यहं वासुदेवस्य पार्थस्य च महात्मनःSanjaya said: "Thus I heard this wondrous, thrilling dialogue between Vasudeva and the great-souled Partha.
  75. 18.75व्यासप्रसादाच्छ्रुतवान् एतद् गुह्यमहं परम्By the grace of Vyasa I heard this supreme secret yoga — spoken directly by Krishna, the Lord of yoga, Himself.
  76. 18.76राजन् संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य संवादमिममद्भुतम्O King, remembering again and again this wondrous, sacred dialogue of Keshava and Arjuna, I rejoice again and again.
  77. 18.77तच्च संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य रूपमत्यद्भुतं हरेःAnd, O King, remembering again and again that most wondrous form of Hari, great is my amazement, and I rejoice again…
  78. 18.78यत्र योगेश्वरः कृष्णो यत्र पार्थो धनुर्धरःWherever there is Krishna, the Lord of yoga, and wherever there is Partha, the bearer of the bow — there are fortune…

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