Yoga through the Perfection of Renunciation and Surrender
Verse 18.8
दुःखमित्येव यत्कर्म कायक्लेशभयात्त्यजेत्।स कृत्वा राजसं त्यागं नैव त्यागफलं लभेत्।।18.8।।
duḥkham ity eva yat karma kāya-kleśha-bhayāt tyajet sa kṛitvā rājasaṁ tyāgaṁ naiva tyāga-phalaṁ labhet
Word Meanings
duḥkham—troublesome; iti—as; eva—indeed; yat—which; karma—duties; kāya—bodily; kleśha—discomfort; bhayāt—out of fear; tyajet—giving up; saḥ—they; kṛitvā—having done; rājasam—in the mode of passion; tyāgam—renunciation of desires for enjoying the fruits of actions; na—never; eva—certainly; tyāga—renunciation of desires for enjoying the fruits of actions; phalam—result; labhet—attain
Translation · English
He who abandons action out of fear of bodily trouble (because it is painful), does not obtain the merit of renunciation by performing such Rajasic renunciation.
Deep Meaning · English
In this verse, Bhagavan Krishna addresses a common spiritual trap: the confusion between genuine renunciation (sannyasa) and the mere avoidance of difficulty (palaayana). Arjuna, paralyzed by the fear of the impending war and the pain it would cause his physical body and mind, seeks to justify his retreat as a form of detachment. Krishna clarifies that when an action is abandoned simply because it is perceived as 'painful' or physically taxing, the motivation is rooted in the ego’s desire to seek comfort and avoid suffering, rather than a spiritual desire to transcend the gunas. This is categorized as Rajasic (passionate) renunciation. The deeper philosophical implication here is that true renunciation is an internal state of non-attachment, not an external withdrawal from duty. When one abandons duty out of fear, the ego remains intact, clinging to the 'comfort' of the result. Because the underlying desire for comfort is the driving force, such a person cannot attain the ultimate peace (tyaga-phalam) that comes from selfless action. Krishna is teaching Arjuna that the path to liberation is not through running away from the struggle of life, but through performing the required duties while abandoning the ego-driven desire for comfort or specific outcomes.
True renunciation is the transcendence of ego, not the physical avoidance of tasks that cause discomfort.
Connected Verses
This verse introduces the classification of renunciation, establishing the context for why abandoning duty is inherently problematic.
Defines the true sannyasi as one who acts without desire for fruit, rather than one who abandons the fire of action.
Reinforces that performing one's prescribed duty is superior to inaction, which is born of ignorance or fear.
Establishes the foundational principle that one has a right to work, but not to the fruits of the action, countering the fear of discomfort.
Community Insights
(0)Share your understanding of this verse with fellow seekers.
No insights yet. Be the first to share your understanding of this verse.