Shrimad Bhagavad Gita · 78 verses
Chapter 18: Liberation through Renunciation
The essence of the whole Gita: the true meaning of renunciation, doing the duty that fits one's nature, and complete surrender. Arjuna ends by saying his confusion is gone and he will do as Krishna says.
All verses, with meaning
18.1Renunciation vs letting goArjuna says: O mighty Krishna, I wish to understand the true meaning of sannyasa (renuncia…18.2Defining the twoKrishna says: The wise call giving up actions driven by desire 'sannyasa', and the learned…18.3Differing viewsSome thinkers say all action should be given up as flawed; others say acts of sacrifice, c…18.4Three kinds of letting goO best of the Bharatas, hear My final word on letting go. O tiger among men, it is said to…18.5Keep sacrifice, charity, austerityActs of sacrifice, charity and austerity should not be given up; they must be done. They p…18.6Action without attachmentBut even these should be done without attachment and without wanting their fruits. O Parth…18.7Tamasic renunciationIt is not right to abandon one's proper duty. Giving it up out of confusion is called tama…18.8Rajasic renunciationOne who gives up a duty because it is hard, out of fear of physical trouble, makes a rajas…18.9Sattvic renunciationO Arjuna, when one does one's duty simply because it should be done, letting go of attachm…18.10The true renouncerThe wise renouncer, filled with sattva and free of doubt, neither dislikes unpleasant work…18.11Letting go of resultsNo one with a body can give up action completely. So the one who gives up the fruits of ac…18.12Who reaps the fruitsThe fruits of action are of three kinds — pleasant, unpleasant and mixed. They come after …18.13Five causes of actionO mighty Arjuna, learn from Me the five causes behind every action, as taught in the Sankh…18.14The five listedThe body as the base, the doer, the various senses, the many kinds of effort, and fifth, t…18.15Behind every deedWhatever action a person does with body, speech or mind, right or wrong, these five are it…18.16The illusion of sole doerYet one who, with an untrained mind, sees himself alone as the doer does not see the truth…18.17Action free of egoOne who has no sense of 'I am the doer' and whose mind is untainted does not truly kill, e…18.18What drives actionKnowledge, the object known and the knower are the three that prompt action. The means, th…18.19Threefold by gunasSankhya teaches that knowledge, action and the doer are each of three kinds according to t…18.20Sattvic knowledgeThe knowledge by which one sees one undying reality in all beings, undivided among the div…18.21Rajasic knowledgeThe knowledge that sees only separate, different kinds of beings in all creatures is rajas…18.22Tamasic knowledgeThe knowledge that clings to one small thing as if it were everything, without reason, wit…18.23Sattvic actionAction that is proper, done without attachment, without likes and dislikes, by one who doe…18.24Rajasic actionAction done to satisfy desires, with ego, and with great strain, is called rajasic.18.25Tamasic actionAction started out of confusion, without thinking of its result, the loss, the harm to oth…18.26Sattvic doerA doer who is free from attachment, does not boast, is full of patience and enthusiasm, an…18.27Rajasic doerA doer who is full of attachment, eager for results, greedy, hurtful, impure and swept awa…18.28Tamasic doerA doer who is undisciplined, crude, stubborn, deceitful, spiteful, lazy, gloomy and always…18.29Intellect and resolveO Arjuna, now hear in full and one by one the three kinds of intellect and of determinatio…18.30Sattvic intellectThe intellect that knows when to act and when to step back, what to do and what not to do,…18.31Rajasic intellectThe intellect that cannot clearly tell right from wrong, or what should be done from what …18.32Tamasic intellectThe intellect, covered in darkness, that takes wrong to be right and sees everything upsid…18.33Sattvic resolveThe unwavering resolve by which, through yoga, one holds steady the workings of the mind, …18.34Rajasic resolveO Partha, the resolve by which one holds on to duty, wealth and pleasure with attachment, …18.35Tamasic resolveThe resolve by which a dull person refuses to let go of sleep, fear, grief, gloom and arro…18.36Three kinds of happinessO best of the Bharatas, now hear from Me about the three kinds of happiness. The happiness…18.37Sattvic happinessThat which feels like poison at first but becomes nectar in the end, and arises from the c…18.38Rajasic happinessHappiness that comes from the senses meeting their objects, which feels like nectar at fir…18.39Tamasic happinessHappiness that clouds the mind from beginning to end, born of sleep, laziness and careless…18.40None free of the gunasThere is no being on earth, or even among the gods in heaven, who is free from these three…18.41Duty by one's natureO Arjuna, the duties of brahmins, kshatriyas, vaishyas and shudras are divided according t…18.42Qualities of a brahminCalmness, self-control, austerity, purity, patience, honesty, knowledge, wisdom from exper…18.43Qualities of a kshatriyaCourage, vigour, steadiness, skill, not running from battle, generosity and leadership are…18.44Work of vaishya and shudraFarming, caring for cows and trade are the natural work of a vaishya; work of service is t…18.45Perfection through own workDevoted to their own work, a person reaches the highest perfection. Hear how one engaged i…18.46Work as worshipBy worshipping, through one's own work, the One from whom all beings come and who fills th…18.47Your own path is bestBetter is one's own duty, even done imperfectly, than another's duty done well. Doing the …18.48Every task has flawsO Arjuna, do not give up the work natural to you, even if it has flaws; for every undertak…18.49Freedom from karmaOne whose mind is unattached everywhere, who has mastered himself and is free from desire,…18.50Reaching BrahmanO Arjuna, hear from Me briefly how one who has reached perfection attains Brahman, the hig…18.51The seeker's disciplineEndowed with a pure intellect, controlling the mind with firmness, turning away from sound…18.52Solitude and meditationliving in solitude, eating lightly, restraining speech, body and mind, always absorbed in …18.53Fit for Brahmangiving up ego, force, arrogance, lust, anger and hoarding, free from the sense of 'mine' a…18.54Supreme devotionEstablished in Brahman and serene, such a person neither grieves nor craves. Seeing all be…18.55Knowing God through devotionThrough devotion, they come to know Me as I truly am — who I am and how great. Knowing Me …18.56Refuge and graceOne who takes refuge in Me, even while doing all kinds of work, reaches by My grace the et…18.57Offer all work to GodOffer all your actions to Me in your heart, hold Me as your highest goal, rely on the yoga…18.58Grace overcomes obstaclesWith your mind on Me, by My grace you will cross every obstacle. But if out of ego you do …18.59Nature will compel youIf, out of ego, you decide 'I will not fight', that decision is in vain; your own nature w…18.60Bound by one's natureO Arjuna, bound by the duty born of your own nature, what you do not wish to do out of con…18.61The Lord in every heartO Arjuna, the Lord lives in the hearts of all beings, and by His power moves them all as i…18.62Surrender wholeheartedlyO Arjuna, take refuge in Him with your whole being. By His grace you will find supreme pea…18.63Reflect, then chooseThus I have shared with you knowledge more secret than all secrets. Reflect on it fully, a…18.64The most secret wordHear once more My highest word, the most secret of all. You are very dear to Me, so I tell…18.65Mind, devotion, worship, surrenderFix your mind on Me, be devoted to Me, worship Me and bow to Me. Doing so, you will surely…18.66Take refuge in meSet aside all other duties and take refuge in me alone. I will free you from all sins; do …18.67Who should not hearThis teaching should never be told to one who has no self-discipline, no devotion, no wish…18.68Sharing the GitaOne who, with supreme devotion to Me, shares this highest secret with My devotees will sur…18.69Dearest to GodNo one among humans does work dearer to Me than this person, and no one on earth will ever…18.70Study as worshipWhoever studies this sacred dialogue of ours, I consider that I am worshipped by them thro…18.71Listening with faithEven one who simply listens with faith and without finding fault is freed and reaches the …18.72Is the confusion gone?O Partha, have you heard this with a focused mind? O Arjuna, has your confusion born of ig…18.73Arjuna's resolveArjuna says: O Krishna, by Your grace my confusion is gone and my understanding has return…18.74Sanjaya's aweSanjaya says: Thus I heard this wondrous dialogue between Krishna and the great-souled Arj…18.75By Vyasa's graceBy the grace of Sage Vyasa, I heard this supreme and secret yoga directly from Krishna, th…18.76Recalling the dialogueO King, as I recall again and again this wondrous and holy dialogue of Krishna and Arjuna,…18.77Remembering the divine formO King, remembering again and again that most wondrous form of Hari, I am filled with grea…18.78Where Krishna is, victory isWherever there is Krishna, the Lord of Yoga, and Arjuna, the archer, there will be prosper…