The Yoga of Liberation

अर्जुन उवाच। संन्यासस्य महाबाहो तत्त्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम्। त्यागस्य च हृषीकेश पृथक्केशिनिषूदन॥

Arjuna said: O mighty-armed one, O Hrishikesha, O slayer of Keshi, I wish to know the truth of renunciation (sannyasa) and relinquishment (tyaga) separately.

श्रीभगवानुवाच। काम्यानां कर्मणां न्यासं संन्यासं कवयो विदुः। सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं प्राहुस्त्यागं विचक्षणाः॥

The Supreme Lord said: The wise understand sannyasa as the abandonment of desire-motivated actions. The discerning speak of tyaga as the relinquishment of the fruits of all actions.

त्याज्यं दोषवदित्येके कर्म प्राहुर्मनीषिणः। यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यमिति चापरे॥

Some philosophers declare that all action should be abandoned as evil; others say that acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity should not be relinquished.

निश्चयं शृणु मे तत्र त्यागे भरतसत्तम। त्यागो हि पुरुषव्याघ्र त्रिविधः संप्रकीर्तितः॥

Hear My conclusion on the matter of relinquishment, O best of Bharatas. Relinquishment, O tiger among men, is declared to be of three kinds.

यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत्। यज्ञो दानं तपश्चैव पावनानि मनीषिणाम्॥

Acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity should not be abandoned; they must be performed. Indeed, sacrifice, charity, and austerity are purifiers of the wise.

एतान्यपि तु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलानि च। कर्तव्यानीति मे पार्थ निश्चितं मतमुत्तमम्॥

But even these actions should be performed giving up attachment and desire for fruits — this is My definite and supreme conclusion, O Partha.

नियतस्य तु संन्यासः कर्मणो नोपपद्यते। मोहात्तस्य परित्यागस्तामसः परिकीर्तितः॥

Renunciation of obligatory duties is not proper. The abandonment of such duties through delusion is declared to be tamasic.

दुःखमित्येव यत्कर्म कायक्लेशभयात्त्यजेत्। स कृत्वा राजसं त्यागं नैव त्यागफलं लभेत्॥

One who abandons action because it is painful or from fear of bodily discomfort — practicing such rajasic renunciation, one does not gain the fruit of renunciation.

कार्यमित्येव यत्कर्म नियतं क्रियतेऽर्जुन। सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलं चैव स त्यागः सात्त्विको मतः॥

When obligatory action is performed merely because it ought to be done, O Arjuna, giving up attachment and fruit — that renunciation is considered sattvic.

न द्वेष्ट्यकुशलं कर्म कुशले नानुषज्जते। त्यागी सत्त्वसमाविष्टो मेधावी छिन्नसंशयः॥

The wise relinquisher, imbued with sattva, with doubts cut away, neither hates unpleasant action nor is attached to pleasant action.

न हि देहभृता शक्यं त्यक्तुं कर्माण्यशेषतः। यस्तु कर्मफलत्यागी स त्यागीत्यभिधीयते॥

It is not possible for one who has a body to completely abandon action. But one who relinquishes the fruits of action is called a true relinquisher.

अनिष्टमिष्टं मिश्रं च त्रिविधं कर्मणः फलम्। भवत्यत्यागिनां प्रेत्य न तु संन्यासिनां क्वचित्॥

The threefold fruit of action — undesirable, desirable, and mixed — accrues after death to those who do not renounce, but never to the renouncers.

पञ्चैतानि महाबाहो कारणानि निबोध मे। साङ्ख्ये कृतान्ते प्रोक्तानि सिद्धये सर्वकर्मणाम्॥

Learn from Me, O mighty-armed one, these five causes for the accomplishment of all action, as declared in the Sankhya teaching.

अधिष्ठानं तथा कर्ता करणं च पृथग्विधम्। विविधाश्च पृथक्चेष्टा दैवं चैवात्र पञ्चमम्॥

The seat of action (body), the doer (ego), the various instruments (senses), the many different kinds of efforts, and destiny as the fifth.

शरीरवाङ्मनोभिर्यत्कर्म प्रारभते नरः। न्याय्यं वा विपरीतं वा पञ्चैते तस्य हेतवः॥

Whatever action a person performs by body, speech, or mind — whether right or wrong — these five are its causes.