Bhagavad Gītā 18

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1. Bhagavadgītā 18.1, English I desire, O mighty-armed, to know severally the essence of renunciation, O Hrishîkesha, and of relinquishment, O Keshinishûdana. Annie Besant
2. Bhagavadgītā 18.2, English Sages have known as renunciation the renouncing of works with desire; the relinquishing of the fruit of all actions is called relinquishment by the wise. Annie Besant
3. Bhagavadgītā 18.3, English "Action should be relinquished as an evil," declare some thoughtful men; "acts of sacrifice, gift and austerity should not be relinquished," say others. Annie Besant
4. Bhagavadgītā 18.4, English Hear my conclusions as to that relinquishment, O best of the Bhâratas; since relinquishment, O tiger of men, has been explained as threefold. Annie Besant
5. Bhagavadgītā 18.5, English Acts of sacrifice, gift and austerity should not be relinquished, but should be performed; sacrifice, gift and also austerity are the purifiers of the intelligent. Annie Besant
6. Bhagavadgītā 18.6, English But even these actions should be done leaving aside attachment and fruit, O Pârtha; that is my certain and best belief. Annie Besant
7. Bhagavadgītā 18.7, English Verily renunciation of actions that are prescribed is not proper; the relinquishment thereof from delusion is said to be of darkness. Annie Besant
8. Bhagavadgītā 18.8, English He who relinquisheth an action from fear of physical suffering, saying "Painful," thus performing a passionate relinquishment, obtaineth not the fruit of relinquishment. Annie Besant
9. Bhagavadgītā 18.9, English He who performeth a prescribed action, saying, "it ought to be done," O Arjuna, relinquishing attachment and also fruit, that relinquishment is regarded as pure. Annie Besant
10. Bhagavadgītā 18.10, English The relinquisher pervaded by purity, intelligent and with doubts cut away, hateth not unpleasurable action nor is attached to pleasurable. Annie Besant
11. Bhagavadgītā 18.11, English Nor indeed can embodied beings completely relinquish action; verily he who relinquisheth the fruit of action, he is said to be a relinquisher. Annie Besant
12. Bhagavadgītā 18.12, English Good, evil and mixed—threefold is the fruit of action hereafter for the non-relinquisher; but there is none ever for the renouncer. Annie Besant
13. Bhagavadgītā 18.13, English These five causes, O mighty-armed, learn of Me as declared in the Sâñkhya system for the accomplishment of all actions: Annie Besant
14. Bhagavadgītā 18.14, English The body, the actor, the various organs, the diverse kinds of energies, and the presiding deities also, the fifth. Annie Besant
15. Bhagavadgītā 18.15, English Whatever action a man performeth by his body, speech and mind, whether right or the reverse, these five are the cause thereof. Annie Besant
16. Bhagavadgītā 18.16, English That being so, he verily who—owing to untrained Reason—looketh on his Self , which is isolated, as the actor, he of perverted intelligence, seeth not. Annie Besant
17. Bhagavadgītā 18.17, English He who is free from the egoistic notion, whose Reason is not affected, though he slay these peoples, he slayeth not, nor is bound. Annie Besant
18. Bhagavadgītā 18.18, English Knowledge, the knowable and the knower, the threefold impulse to action; the organ, the action, the actor, the threefold constituents of action. Annie Besant
19. Bhagavadgītā 18.19, English Knowledge, action and actor in the category of qualities are also said to be severally threefold, from the difference of qualities; hear thou duly these also. Annie Besant
20. Bhagavadgītā 18.20, English That by which one indestructible Being is seen in all beings, inseparate in the separated, know thou that knowledge as pure. Annie Besant
21. Bhagavadgītā 18.21, English But that knowledge which regardeth the several manifold existences in all beings as separate, that knowledge know thou as of passion; Annie Besant
22. Bhagavadgītā 18.22, English While that which clingeth to each one thing as if it were the whole, without reason, without grasping the reality, narrow, that is declared to be dark. Annie Besant
23. Bhagavadgītā 18.23, English An action which is ordained, done by one undesirous of fruit, devoid of attachment, without love or hate, that is called pure. Annie Besant
24. Bhagavadgītā 18.24, English But that action that is done by one longing for desires, or again with egoism, or with much effort, that is declared to be passionate. Annie Besant
25. Bhagavadgītā 18.27, English Impassioned, desiring to obtain the fruit of actions, greedy, harmful, impure, moved by joy and sorrow, such an actor is pronounced passionate. Annie Besant
26. Bhagavadgītā 18.28, English Discordant, vulgar, stubborn, cheating, malicious, indolent, despairful, procrastinating, that actor is called dark. Annie Besant
27. Bhagavadgītā 18.29, English The division of Reason and of firmness also, threefold according to the qualities, hear thou related, unreservedly and severally, O Dhananjaya. Annie Besant
28. Bhagavadgītā 18.30, English That which knoweth energy and abstinence, what ought to be done and what ought not to be done, fear and fearlessness, bondage and liberation, that Reason is pure, O Pârtha. Annie Besant
29. Bhagavadgītā 18.31, English That by which one understandeth away Right and Wrong and also what ought to be done and what ought not to be done, that Reason, O Pârtha, is passionate. Annie Besant
30. Bhagavadgītā 18.32, English That which, enwrapped in darkness, thinketh wrong to be right and seeth all things subverted, that Reason, O Pârtha, is of darkness. Annie Besant
31. Bhagavadgītā 18.33, English The unwavering firmness by which, through Yoga, one restraineth the activity of the mind, of the life breaths and of the sense-organs, that firmness, O Pârtha, is pure. Annie Besant
32. Bhagavadgītā 18.34, English But the firmness, O Arjuna, by which, from attachment desirous of fruit, one holdeth fast duty, desire and wealth, that firmness, O Pârtha, is passionate. Annie Besant
33. Bhagavadgītā 18.35, English That by which one from stupidity doth not abandon sleep, fear, grief, despair, and also vanity, that firmness, O Pârtha, is dark. Annie Besant
34. Bhagavadgītā 18.36, English And now the threefold kinds of pleasure hear thou from Me, O bull of the Bhâratas. That in which one by practice rejoiceth, and which putteth an end to pain; Annie Besant
35. Bhagavadgītā 18.37, English Which at first is as venom but in the end is as nectar; that pleasure is said to be pure, born of the blissful knowledge of the Self . Annie Besant
36. Bhagavadgītā 18.38, English That which from the union of the senses with their objects at first is as nectar, but in the end is like venom, that pleasure is accounted passionate. Annie Besant
37. Bhagavadgītā 18.39, English That pleasure which both at first and afterwards is delusive of the self, arising from sleep, indolence and heedlessness, that is declared dark. Annie Besant
38. Bhagavadgītā 18.40, English There is not an entity, either on the earth or again in heaven among the Shining Ones, that is liberated from these three qualities, born of Matter. Annie Besant
39. Bhagavadgītā 18.41, English Of Brâhmanas, Kshattriyas, Vaishyas and Shûdras, O Parantapa, the duties have been distributed, according to the qualities born of their own natures. Annie Besant
40. Bhagavadgītā 18.42, English Serenity, self-restraint, austerity, purity, forgiveness and also uprightness, wisdom, knowledge, belief in God, are the Brâhmana duty, born of his own nature. Annie Besant
41. Bhagavadgītā 18.43, English Prowess, splendour, firmness, dexterity, and also not flying from battle, generosity, the nature of a ruler, are the Kshattriya duty, born of his own nature. Annie Besant
42. Bhagavadgītā 18.44, English Ploughing, protection of kine, and trade are the Vaishya duty, born of his own nature. Action of the nature of service is the Shûdra duty, born of his own nature. Annie Besant
43. Bhagavadgītā 18.45, English Man reacheth perfection by each being intent on his own duty. Listen thou how perfection is won by him who is intent on his own duty. Annie Besant
44. Bhagavadgītā 18.46, English He from whom is the emanation of beings, by Whom all This is pervaded, by worshipping Him in his own duty a man winneth perfection. Annie Besant
45. Bhagavadgītā 18.47, English Better is one's own duty though destitute of merits than the well-executed duty of another. He who doeth the duty laid down by his own nature incurreth not sin. Annie Besant
46. Bhagavadgītā 18.48, English Congenital duty, O son of Kunti, though defective, ought not to be abandoned. All undertakings indeed are clouded by defects as fire by smoke. Annie Besant
47. Bhagavadgītā 18.49, English He whose Reason is everywhere unattached, the self-subdued, dead to desires, he goeth by renunciation to the supreme perfection of freedom from obligation. Annie Besant
48. Bhagavadgītā 18.50, English How he who hath attained perfection obtaineth the Eternal , that highest state of wisdom, learn thou from Me only succinctly, O Kaunteya. Annie Besant
49. Bhagavadgītā 18.52, English Dwelling in solitude, abstemious, speech, body and mind subdued, constantly fixed in meditation and yoga, taking refuge in dispassion, Annie Besant
50. Bhagavadgītā 18.53, English Having cast aside egoism, violence, arrogance, desire, wrath, covetousness, selfless and peaceful—he is fit to become the Eternal . Annie Besant
51. Bhagavadgītā 18.54, English Becoming the Eternal , serene in the Self , he neither grieveth nor desireth; the same to all beings, he obtaineth supreme devotion unto Me. Annie Besant
52. Bhagavadgītā 18.55, English By devotion he knoweth Me in essence, who and what I am; having thus known Me in essence he forthwith entereth into the Supreme. Annie Besant
53. Bhagavadgītā 18.56, English Though ever performing all actions, taking refuge in Me, by My grace he obtaineth the eternal indestructible abode. Annie Besant
54. Bhagavadgītā 18.57, English Renouncing mentally all works in Me, intent on Me, resorting to the yoga of discrimination, have thy thought ever on Me. Annie Besant
55. Bhagavadgītā 18.58, English Thinking on Me, thou shalt overcome all obstacles by My grace: but if from egoism thou wilt not listen, thou shalt be destroyed utterly. Annie Besant
56. Bhagavadgītā 18.59, English Entrenched in egoism, thou thinkest, "I will not fight;" to no purpose thy determination; nature will constrain thee. Annie Besant
57. Bhagavadgītā 18.60, English O son of Kuntî, bound by thine own duty born of thine own nature, that which from delusion thou desirest not to do, even that helplessly thou shalt perform. Annie Besant
58. Bhagavadgītā 18.61, English The Lord dwelleth in the hearts of all beings, O Arjuna, by His illusive Power causing all beings to revolve, as though mounted on a potter's wheel. Annie Besant
59. Bhagavadgītā 18.62, English Flee unto Him for shelter with all thy being, O Bhârata; by His grace thou shalt obtain supreme peace, the everlasting dwelling-place. Annie Besant
60. Bhagavadgītā 18.63, English Thus hath wisdom, more secret than secrecy itself, been declared unto thee by Me; having reflected on it fully, then act thou as thou listest. Annie Besant
61. Bhagavadgītā 18.64, English Listen thou again to My supreme word, most secret of all; beloved art thou of Me, and steadfast of heart, therefore will I speak for thy benefit. Annie Besant
62. Bhagavadgītā 18.65, English Merge thy mind in Me, be my devotee, sacrifice to Me, prostrate thyself before Me, thou shalt come even to Me. I pledge thee My troth; thou art dear to Me. Annie Besant
63. Bhagavadgītā 18.66, English Abandoning all duties come unto Me alone for shelter; sorrow not, I will liberate thee from all sins. Annie Besant
64. Bhagavadgītā 18.67, English Never is this to be spoken by thee to anyone who is without asceticism, nor without devotion, nor to one who desireth not to listen, nor yet to him who speaketh evil of Me. Annie Besant
65. Bhagavadgītā 18.69, English Nor is there any among men who performeth dearer service to Me than he, nor any other shall be more beloved by Me on earth than he. Annie Besant
66. Bhagavadgītā 18.70, English And he who shall study this sacred dialogue of ours, by him I shall be worshipped with the sacrifice of wisdom. Such is My mind. Annie Besant
67. Bhagavadgītā 18.74, English I heard this marvellous dialogue of Vâsudeva, and of the great-souled Partha, causing my hair to stand on end. Annie Besant
68. Bhagavadgītā 18.75, English By the favour of Vyâsa I listened to this secret and supreme yoga from the Lord of Yoga, Krishna Himself, speaking before mine eyes. Annie Besant
69. Bhagavadgītā 18.76, English O King, remembering, remembering this marvellous and holy dialogue between Keshava and Arjuna, I rejoice again and again. Annie Besant
70. Bhagavadgītā 18.77, English Remembering, remembering, also that most marvellous form of Hari, great is my wonder, O King. I rejoice, again and again. Annie Besant
71. Bhagavadgītā 18.78, English Wherever is Krishna, Yoga's Lord, wherever is Pârtha, the archer, assured are there prosperity, victory and happiness. So I think. Annie Besant