BG 18.8 (1972)

Bhagavad-gita As It Is (1972) - Chapter 18: Conclusion - The Perfection of Renunciation

BG 18.7 (1972) - BG 18.9 (1972)

Compare Versions: BG 1972 with BG 1983+

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

TEXT 8

दुःखमित्येव यत्कर्म कायक्लेशभयात्त्यजेत् ।

स कृत्वा राजसं त्यागं नैव त्यागफलं लभेत् ॥८॥

duḥkham ity eva yat karma

kāya-kleśa-bhayāt tyajet

sa kṛtvā rājasaṁ tyāgaṁ

naiva tyāga-phalaṁ labhet

SYNONYMS

duḥkham—unhappy; iti—thus; eva—certainly; yat—that which; karma—work; kāya—body; kleśa—troublesome; bhayāt—out of; tyajet—fear; saḥ—that; kṛtvā—after doing; rājasam—in the mode of passion; tyāgam—renunciation; na eva—certainly not; tyāga—renounced; phalam—results; labhet—gain.

TRANSLATION

Anyone who gives up prescribed duties as troublesome, or out of fear, is said to be in the mode of passion. Such action never leads to the elevation of renunciation.

PURPORT

One who is in Kṛṣṇa consciousness should not give up earning money out of fear that he is performing fruitive activities. If by working one can engage his money in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or if by rising early in the morning one can advance his transcendental Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one should not desist out of fear or because such activities are considered troublesome. Such renunciation is in the mode of passion. The result of passionate work is always miserable. Even if a person renounces work in that spirit, he never gets the result of renunciation.

BG 18.7 (1972) - BG 18.9 (1972)