MindKshetraby LogitsLab
← Chapter 18

Bhagavad Gita · 18.11 · Yoga through the Perfection of Renunciation and Surrender·11 of 78

न हि देहभृता शक्यं त्यक्तुं कर्माण्यशेषतःयस्तु कर्मफलत्यागी स त्यागीत्यभिधीयते

na hi deha-bhṛitā śhakyaṁ tyaktuṁ karmāṇy

aśheṣhataḥ yas tu karma-phala-tyāgī sa tyāgīty abhidhīyate

Sanskrit recitation

True renunciation · 18.1–18.12 · Teaching

Translation

Indeed, it is not possible for an embodied being to completely abandon actions; however, he who relinquishes the rewards of actions is truly called a man of renunciation.

Meaning

He who has assumed a human body and yet grumbles at having to perform actions is verily a fool. Can fire that is endowed with heat as its natural property ever think of getting rid of it So long as you are living in this body you cannot entirely relinish action. Lord Krishna says to Arjuna Nor can anyone, even for an instant remain actionless for helplessly is everyone driven to action by the alities born of Nature (Cf.III.5). Nature (and your own nature, too) will urge you to do actions. You will have to abandon the idea of agency and the fruits of actions. Then you are ite safe. No action will bind you.The ignorant man who identifies himself with the body and who thinks that he is himself the doer of all actions should not abandon actions. It is impossible for him to relinish actions. He will have to perform all the prescribed duties while relinishing their fruits.Dehabhrita A wearer of the body An embodied being, i.e., he who identifies himself with the body

After Swami Sivananda

True renunciation· 18.1–18.12

Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.

Word-by-word
hi
indeed
na
not
tu
but
iti
as
saḥ
they
yaḥ
who
tyaktum
to give up
tyāgī
one who renounces all desires for enjoying the fruits of actions
śhakyam
possible
karmāṇi
activities
karma-phala
fruits of actions
abhidhīyate
are said
deha-bhṛitā
for the embodied being
aśheṣhataḥ
entirely

Related verses

Your reflection

Sign in to save reflections.

Sign in