Verse 18.2 : Moksha Sanyasa Yoga "Liberation and Renunciation"
Verse 2 of 78
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The Translation
“The Supreme Lord said: The sages understand renunciation (Sanyasa) to be the casting off of actions driven by desire. The wise declare abandonment (Tyaga) to be the giving up of the fruits of all actions.”
Commentary & Insights
Krishna begins his answer by defining the terms Sanyasa and Tyaga according to different schools of ancient Indian thought. In the Vedic period, there was a tension between the path of ritual action (Karma Kanda) and the path of monastic renunciation (Jnana Kanda), and Krishna seeks to harmonize them.
Practical Application
1
Identify one action you perform out of desire for praise or reward, and try performing it solely as a service.
Reflections & Notes
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Self-Reflection Prompts
- What is the difference between giving up a task entirely versus doing the task but letting go of your attachment to the outcome?
- How does acting without craving for personal reward (Tyaga) improve the quality of your work?
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18.2
श्रीभगवानुवाच
Shankara comments that Sanyasa is the total abandonment of desire-oriented actions (like sacrifices for wealth or heaven). Tyaga is the performance of obligatory duties (Nitya and Naimittika Karma) but with the renunciation of their fruits. He notes that both terms eventually lead to the same state of actionlessness for a knower of Brahman.