- 18.1संन्यासस्य महाबाहो तत्त्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम् ।Arjuna asks Krishna to clearly explain the difference between renunciation and relinquishment.
- 18.2काम्यानां कर्मणां न्यासं संन्यासं कवयो विदुः ।Krishna says renunciation is giving up desire-driven action, while relinquishment is giving up attachment to results.
- 18.3त्याज्यं दोषवदित्येके कर्म प्राहुर्मनीषिणः ।There are different views on whether action itself should be abandoned or kept as a duty.
- 18.4निश्चयं शृणु मे तत्र त्यागे भरतसत्तम ।Krishna gives his final view and says relinquishment itself has three forms.
- 18.5यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत् ।Sacrifice, charity, and austerity should be continued because they purify the mind and life.
- 18.6एतान्यपि तु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलानि च ।Do your duty without clinging to the outcome.
- 18.7नियतस्य तु संन्यासः कर्मणो नोपपद्यते ।Refusing your rightful duty because of confusion is tamasic renunciation.
- 18.8दुःखमित्येव यत्कर्म कायक्लेशभयात्त्यजेत् ।Abandoning duty because it feels hard is a rajasic form of renunciation.
- 18.9कार्यमित्येव यत्कर्म नियतं क्रियतेऽर्जुन ।Right renunciation means doing duty without attachment to reward.
- 18.10न द्वेष्ट्यकुशलं कर्म कुशले नानुषज्जते ।A true renouncer is not ruled by liking or disliking action.
- 18.11न हि देहभृता शक्यं त्यक्तुं कर्माण्यशेषतः ।You cannot escape all action while embodied, but you can let go of attachment to results.
- 18.12अनिष्टमिष्टं मिश्रं च त्रिविधं कर्मणः फलम् ।Attachment to action brings mixed results, while true renunciation is free of that bondage.
- 18.13पञ्चैतानि महाबाहो कारणानि निबोध मे ।Krishna introduces five causes that explain how action happens.
- 18.14अधिष्ठानं तथा कर्ता करणं च पृथग्विधम् ।Action depends on the body, the agent, the senses, effort, and a higher factor.
- 18.15शरीरवाङ्मनोभिर्यत्कर्म प्रारभते नरः ।All actions through body, speech, or mind arise from multiple causes, not one alone.
- 18.16तत्रैवं सति कर्तारमात्मानं केवलं तु यः ।Thinking the self alone is the only doer is a misunderstanding.
- 18.17यस्य नाहंकृतो भावो बुद्धिर्यस्य न लिप्यते ।A selfless person does not become bound by action in the way the egoic person does.
- 18.18ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं परिज्ञाता त्रिविधा कर्मचोदना ।Action arises from knowledge, object, and knower, and is carried out through means, act, and actor.
- 18.19ज्ञानं कर्म च कर्ताच त्रिधैव गुणभेदतः ।Knowledge, action, and the doer each have sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic forms.
- 18.20सर्वभूतेषु येनैकं भावमव्ययमीक्षते ।Sattvic knowledge sees one unchanging reality in all living beings.
- 18.21पृथक्त्वेन तु यज्ज्ञानं नानाभावान्पृथग्विधान् ।Rajasic knowledge is divided and sees reality as fragmented and separate.
- 18.22यत्तु कृत्स्नवदेकस्मिन्कार्ये सक्तमहैतुकम् ।Tamasic knowledge is narrow, stubborn, and confused.
- 18.23नियतं सङ्गरहितमरागद्वेषतः कृतम् ।Sattvic action is steady duty done without attachment to outcome.
- 18.24यत्तु कामेप्सुना कर्म साहंकारेण वा पुनः ।Rajasic action is driven by desire, ambition, and ego.
- 18.25अनुबन्धं क्षयं हिंसामनपेक्ष्य च पौरुषम् ।Tamasic action is careless, blind, and harmful.
- 18.26मुक्तसङ्गोऽनहंवादी धृत्युत्साहसमन्वितः ।The sattvic doer is steady, humble, and balanced in victory or defeat.
- 18.27रागी कर्मफलप्रेप्सुर्लुब्धो हिंसात्मकोऽशुचिः ।The rajasic doer is restless, attached, and emotionally driven.
- 18.28अयुक्तः प्राकृतः स्तब्धः शठो नैष्कृतिकोऽलसः ।The tamasic doer is confused, inert, and resistant to growth.
- 18.29बुद्धेर्भेदं धृतेश्चैव गुणतस्त्रिविधं शृणु ।Krishna now explains three kinds of intellect and steadiness.
- 18.30प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च कार्याकार्ये भयाभये ।Sattvic intellect clearly sees duty, danger, bondage, and freedom.
- 18.31यया धर्ममधर्मं च कार्यं चाकार्यमेव च ।Rajasic intellect misreads right and wrong and becomes morally confused.
- 18.32अधर्मं धर्ममिति या मन्यते तमसावृता ।Tamasic intellect is dark, inverted, and confused about truth.
- 18.33धृत्या यया धारयते मनःप्राणेन्द्रियक्रियाः ।Sattvic steadiness keeps mind, body, and senses firmly centered.
- 18.34यया तु धर्मकामार्थान्धृत्या धारयतेऽर्जुन ।Rajasic steadiness holds on, but mainly for gain and reward.
- 18.35यया स्वप्नं भयं शोकं विषादं मदमेव च ।Tamasic steadiness is really stubborn inertia that keeps a person stuck in dull habits.
- 18.36सुखं त्विदानीं त्रिविधं शृणु मे भरतर्षभ ।Krishna now explains three kinds of happiness.
- 18.37यत्तदग्रे विषमिव परिणामेऽमृतोपमम् ।Sattvic happiness is difficult at first but deeply fulfilling in the end.
- 18.38विषयेन्द्रियसंयोगाद्यत्तदग्रेऽमृतोपमम् ।Rajasic happiness feels sweet first but turns bitter later.
- 18.39यदग्रे चानुबन्धे च सुखं मोहनमात्मनः ।Tamasic happiness is dull, deceptive, and rooted in inertia.
- 18.40न तदस्ति पृथिव्यां वा दिवि देवेषु वा पुनः ।Every being is influenced in some way by the three gunas.
- 18.41ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणां च परन्तप ।Different temperaments naturally lead to different duties and roles.
- 18.42शमो दमस्तपः शौचं क्षान्तिरार्जवमेव च ।A brahmana's nature is marked by calmness, discipline, knowledge, and integrity.
- 18.43शौर्यं तेजो धृतिर्दाक्ष्यं युद्धे चाप्यपलायनम् ।A kshatriya's duty is courage, steadiness, competence, and protective strength.
- 18.44कृषिगौरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं वैश्यकर्म स्वभावजम् ।People also fulfill dharma through work that supports society in practical ways.
- 18.45स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः ।Perfection comes through wholehearted commitment to one's rightful path.
- 18.46यतः प्रवृत्तिर्भूतानां येन सर्वमिदं ततम् ।Your work becomes sacred when it is offered to the Source of all life.
- 18.47श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् ।It is better to do your own duty imperfectly than to imitate someone else's path.
- 18.48सहजं कर्म कौन्तेय सदोषमपि न त्यजेत् ।Do not reject your natural duty just because it is imperfect.
- 18.49असक्तबुद्धिः सर्वत्र जितात्मा विगतस्पृहः ।Freedom comes when detachment and self-mastery become stable everywhere.
- 18.50सिद्धिं प्राप्तो यथा ब्रह्म तथाप्नोति निबोध मे ।Krishna now explains how perfection leads to Brahman-realization.
- 18.51बुद्ध्या विशुद्धया युक्तो धृत्यात्मानं नियम्य च ।A seeker advances by refining understanding and letting go of attachment and dislike.
- 18.52विविक्तसेवी लघ्वाशी यतवाक्कायमानसः ।A serious seeker lives simply, speaks carefully, and keeps the mind in steady meditation.
- 18.53अहंकारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं परिग्रहम् ।When ego and possessiveness fall away, a person becomes fit for spiritual realization.
- 18.54ब्रह्मभूतः प्रसन्नात्मा न शोचति न काङ्क्षति ।A realized person becomes calm, balanced, and ready for the highest devotion.
- 18.55भक्त्या मामभिजानाति यावान्यश्चास्मि तत्त्वतः ।Devotion reveals Krishna in truth and leads the seeker into union with Him.
- 18.56सर्वकर्माण्यपि सदा कुर्वाणो मद्व्यपाश्रयः ।By relying on Krishna, all action becomes a path to the eternal state.
- 18.57चेतसा सर्वकर्माणि मयि संन्यस्य मत्परः ।Give your actions and attention to Krishna and stay inwardly centered on Him.
- 18.58मच्चित्तः सर्वदुर्गाणि मत्प्रसादात्तरिष्यसि ।Focus on Krishna and His grace will carry you through difficulty.
- 18.59यदहंकारमाश्रित्य न योत्स्य इति मन्यसे ।Denial of duty cannot overcome your deeper nature.
- 18.60स्वभावजेन कौन्तेय निबद्धः स्वेन कर्मणा ।Nature and habit are stronger than mere stubborn refusal.
- 18.61ईश्वरः सर्वभूतानां हृद्देशेऽर्जुन तिष्ठति ।Krishna is present within all hearts and moves life through His hidden power.
- 18.62तमेव शरणं गच्छ सर्वभावेन भारत ।Full surrender to Krishna brings peace and the highest home.
- 18.63इति ते ज्ञानमाख्यातं गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं मया ।Krishna has given Arjuna the deepest teaching and leaves room for reflection and choice.
- 18.64सर्वगुह्यतमं भूयः शृणु मे परमं वचः ।Krishna repeats the deepest teaching because Arjuna is dear to Him.
- 18.65मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु ।Krishna asks for whole-hearted devotion, and promises union in return.
- 18.66सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज ।Krishna's final call is complete surrender to Him alone.
- 18.67इदं ते नातपस्काय नाभक्ताय कदाचन ।This teaching should be given only to receptive and sincere seekers.
- 18.68य इदं परमं गुह्यं मद्भक्तेष्वभिधास्यति ।Sharing this teaching with devotion itself leads toward Krishna.
- 18.69न च तस्मान्मनुष्येषु कश्चिन्मे प्रियकृत्तमः ।Krishna says no one is dearer than the one who serves and shares this teaching.
- 18.70अध्येष्यते च य इमं धर्म्यं संवादमावयोः ।Studying the Gita itself is a form of worship through understanding.
- 18.71श्रद्धावाननसूयश्च शृणुयादपि यो नरः ।Faithful and open listening brings purification and upliftment.
- 18.72कच्चिदेतच्छ्रुतं पार्थ त्वयैकाग्रेण चेतसा ।Krishna asks whether Arjuna has truly received the teaching and shaken off delusion.
- 18.73नष्टो मोहः स्मृतिर्लब्धा त्वत्प्रसादान्मयाच्युत ।Arjuna confirms that clarity and confidence have returned through Krishna's grace.
- 18.74इत्यहं वासुदेवस्य पार्थस्य च महात्मनः ।Sanjaya describes the Gita as an awe-inspiring conversation.
- 18.75व्यासप्रसादाच्छ्रुतवानेतद्गुह्यमहं परम् ।Sanjaya says he heard this teaching by Vyasa's grace, directly from Krishna.
- 18.76राजन्संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य संवादमिममद्भुतम् ।Sanjaya says the memory of the dialogue fills him with joy.
- 18.77तच्च संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य रूपमत्यद्भुतं हरेः ।Sanjaya is overwhelmed by the memory of Krishna's divine form.
- 18.78यत्र योगेश्वरः कृष्णो यत्र पार्थो धनुर्धरः ।Where Krishna and Arjuna stand together, success and righteousness are assured.
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