Chapter 18. Conclusion--The Perfection of Renunciation
Chapter 18, Verse 1.
 Arjuna said, O mighty-armed
one, I wish to understand the purpose of renunciation [tyaga] and of the
renounced order of life [sannyasa], O killer of the Kesi demon, Hrsikesa.
Chapter 18, Verse 2.
The Supreme Lord said,
To give up the results of all activities is called renunciation [tyaga]
by the wise. And that state is called the renounced order of life [sannyasa]
by great learned men.
Chapter 18, Verse 3.
Some learned men declare
that all kinds of fruitive activities should be given up, but there are
yet other sages who maintain that acts of sacrifice, charity and penance
should never be abandoned.
Chapter 18, Verse 4.
O best of the Bharatas,
hear from Me now about renunciation. O tiger among men, there are three
kinds of renunciation declared in the scriptures.
Chapter 18, Verse 5.
Acts of sacrifice,
charity and penance are not to be given up but should be performed. Indeed,
sacrifice, charity and penance purify even the great souls.
Chapter 18, Verse 6.
All these activities
should be performed without any expectation of result. They should be performed
as a matter of duty, O son of Prtha. That is My final opinion.
Chapter 18, Verse 7.
Prescribed duties should
never be renounced. If, by illusion, one gives up his prescribed duties,
such renunciation is said to be in the mode of ignorance.
Chapter 18, Verse 8.
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.
Chapter 18, Verse 9.
But he who performs
his prescribed duty only because it ought to be done, and renounces all
attachment to the fruit--his renunciation is of the nature of goodness,
O Arjuna.
Chapter 18, Verse 10.
Those who are situated
in the mode of goodness, who neither hate inauspicious work nor are attached
to auspicious work, have no doubts about work.
Chapter 18, Verse 11.
It is indeed impossible
for an embodied being to give up all activities. Therefore it is said that
he who renounces the fruits of action is one who has truly renounced.
Chapter 18, Verse 12.
For one who is not
renounced, the threefold fruits of action--desirable, undesirable and mixed--accrue
after death. But those who are in the renounced order of life have no such
results to suffer or enjoy.
Chapter 18, Verse 13-14.
O mighty-armed Arjuna,
learn from Me of the five factors which bring about the accomplishment
of all action. These are declared in sankhya philosophy to be the place
of action, the performer, the senses, the endeavor, and ultimately the
Supersoul.
Chapter 18, Verse 15.
Whatever right or wrong
action a man performs by body, mind or speech is caused by these five factors.
Chapter 18, Verse 16.
Therefore one who thinks
himself the only doer, not considering the five factors, is certainly not
very intelligent and cannot see things as they are.
Chapter 18, Verse 17.
One who is not motivated
by false ego, whose intelligence is not entangled, though he kills men
in this world, is not the slayer. Nor is he bound by his actions.
Chapter 18, Verse 18.
Knowledge, the object
of knowledge and the knower are the three factors which motivate action;
the senses, the work and the doer comprise the threefold basis of action.
Chapter 18, Verse 19.
In accordance with
the three modes of material nature, there are three kinds of knowledge,
action, and performers of action. Listen as I describe them.
Chapter 18, Verse 20.
That knowledge by which
one undivided spiritual nature is seen in all existences, undivided in
the divided, is knowledge in the mode of goodness.
Chapter 18, Verse 21.
That knowledge by which
a different type of living entity is seen to be dwelling in different bodies
is knowledge in the mode of passion.
Chapter 18, Verse 22.
And that knowledge
by which one is attached to one kind of work as the all in all, without
knowledge of the truth, and which is very meager, is said to be in the
mode of darkness.
Chapter 18, Verse 23.
As for actions, that
action in accordance with duty, which is performed without attachment,
without love or hate, by one who has renounced fruitive results, is called
action in the mode of goodness.
Chapter 18, Verse 24.
But action performed
with great effort by one seeking to gratify his desires, and which is enacted
from a sense of false ego, is called action in the mode of passion.
Chapter 18, Verse 25.
And that action performed
in ignorance and delusion without consideration of future bondage or consequences,
which inflicts injury and is impractical, is said to be action in the mode
of ignorance.
Chapter 18, Verse 26.
The worker who is free
from all material attachments and false ego, who is enthusiastic and resolute
and who is indifferent to success or failure, is a worker in the mode of
goodness.
Chapter 18, Verse 27.
But that worker who
is attached to the fruits of his labor and who passionately wants to enjoy
them, who is greedy, envious and impure and moved by happiness and distress,
is a worker in the mode of passion.
Chapter 18, Verse 28.
And that worker who
is always engaged in work against the injunction of the scripture, who
is materialistic, obstinate, cheating and expert in insulting others, who
is lazy, always morose and procrastinating, is a worker in the mode of
ignorance.
Chapter 18, Verse 29.
Now, O winner of wealth,
please listen as I tell you in detail of the three kinds of understanding
and determination according to the three modes of nature.
Chapter 18, Verse 30.
O son of Prtha, that
understanding by which one knows what ought to be done and what ought not
to be done, what is to be feared and what is not to be feared, what is
binding and what is liberating, that understanding is established in the
mode of goodness.
Chapter 18, Verse 31.
And that understanding
which cannot distinguish between the religious way of life and the irreligious,
between action that should be done and action that should not be done,
that imperfect understanding, O son of Prtha, is in the mode of passion.
Chapter 18, Verse 32.
That understanding
which considers irreligion to be religion and religion to be irreligion,
under the spell of illusion and darkness, and strives always in the wrong
direction, O Partha, is in the mode of ignorance.
Chapter 18, Verse 33.
O son of Prtha, that
determination which is unbreakable, which is sustained with steadfastness
by yoga practice, and thus controls the mind, life, and the acts of the
senses, is in the mode of goodness.
Chapter 18, Verse 34.
And that determination
by which one holds fast to fruitive result in religion, economic development
and sense gratification is of the nature of passion, O Arjuna.
Chapter 18, Verse 35.
And that determination
which cannot go beyond dreaming, fearfulness, lamentation, moroseness,
and illusion--such unintelligent determination is in the mode of darkness.
Chapter 18, Verse 36-37.
O best of the Bharatas,
now please hear from Me about the three kinds of happiness which the conditioned
soul enjoys, and by which he sometimes comes to the end of all distress.
That which in the beginning may be just like poison but at the end is just
like nectar and which awakens one to self-realization is said to be happiness
in the mode of goodness.
Chapter 18, Verse 38.
That happiness which
is derived from contact of the senses with their objects and which appears
like nectar at first but poison at the end is said to be of the nature
of passion.
Chapter 18, Verse 39.
And that happiness
which is blind to self-realization, which is delusion from beginning to
end and which arises from sleep, laziness and illusion is said to be of
the nature of ignorance.
Chapter 18, Verse 40.
There is no being existing,
either here or among the demigods in the higher planetary systems, which
is freed from the three modes of material nature.
Chapter 18, Verse 41.
Brahmanas, ksatriyas,
vaisyas and sudras are distinguished by their qualities of work, O chastiser
of the enemy, in accordance with the modes of nature.
Chapter 18, Verse 42.
Peacefulness, self-control,
austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness--these
are the qualities by which the brahmanas work.
Chapter 18, Verse 43.
Heroism, power, determination,
resourcefulness, courage in battle, generosity, and leadership are the
qualities of work for the ksatriyas.
Chapter 18, Verse 44.
Farming, cow protection
and business are the qualities of work for the vaisyas, and for the sudras
there is labor and service to others.
Chapter 18, Verse 45.
By following his qualities
of work, every man can become perfect. Now please hear from Me how this
can be done.
Chapter 18, Verse 46.
By worship of the Lord,
who is the source of all beings and who is all-pervading, man can, in the
performance of his own duty, attain perfection.
Chapter 18, Verse 47.
It is better to engage
in one's own occupation, even though one may perform it imperfectly, than
to accept another's occupation and perform it perfectly. Prescribed duties,
according to one's nature, are never affected by sinful reactions.
Chapter 18, Verse 48.
Every endeavor is covered
by some sort of fault, just as fire is covered by smoke. Therefore one
should not give up the work which is born of his nature, O son of Kunti,
even if such work is full of fault.
Chapter 18, Verse 49.
One can obtain the
results of renunciation simply by self-control and by becoming unattached
to material things and disregarding material enjoyments. That is the highest
perfectional stage of renunciation.
Chapter 18, Verse 50.
O son of Kunti, learn
from Me in brief how one can attain to the supreme perfectional stage,
Brahman, by acting in the way I shall now summarize.
Chapter 18, Verse 51-53.
Being purified by his
intelligence and controlling the mind with determination, giving up the
objects of sense gratification, being freed from attachment and hatred,
one who lives in a secluded place, who eats little and who controls the
body and the tongue, and is always in trance and is detached, who is without
false ego, false strength, false pride, lust, anger, and who does not accept
material things, such a person is certainly elevated to the position of
self-realization.
Chapter 18, Verse 54.
One who is thus transcendentally
situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman. He never laments nor desires
to have anything; he is equally disposed to every living entity. In that
state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.
Chapter 18, Verse 55.
One can understand
the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service. And when one
is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter
into the kingdom of God.
Chapter 18, Verse 56.
Though engaged in all
kinds of activities, My devotee, under My protection, reaches the eternal
and imperishable abode by My grace.
Chapter 18, Verse 57.
In all activities just
depend upon Me and work always under My protection. In such devotional
service, be fully conscious of Me.
Chapter 18, Verse 58.
If you become conscious
of Me, you will pass over all the obstacles of conditional life by My grace.
If, however, you do not work in such consciousness but act through false
ego, not hearing Me, you will be lost.
Chapter 18, Verse 59.
If you do not act according
to My direction and do not fight, then you will be falsely directed. By
your nature, you will have to be engaged in warfare.
Chapter 18, Verse 60.
Under illusion you
are now declining to act according to My direction. But, compelled by your
own nature, you will act all the same, O son of Kunti.
Chapter 18, Verse 61.
The Supreme Lord is
situated in everyone's heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings
of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material
energy.
Chapter 18, Verse 62.
O scion of Bharata,
surrender unto Him utterly. By His grace you will attain transcendental
peace and the supreme and eternal abode.
Chapter 18, Verse 63.
Thus I have explained
to you the most confidential of all knowledge. Deliberate on this fully,
and then do what you wish to do.
Chapter 18, Verse 64.
Because you are My
very dear friend, I am speaking to you the most confidential part of knowledge.
Hear this from Me, for it is for your benefit.
Chapter 18, Verse 65.
Always think of Me
and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you
will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very
dear friend.
Chapter 18, Verse 66.
Abandon all varieties
of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful
reaction. Do not fear.
Chapter 18, Verse 67.
This confidential knowledge
may not be explained to those who are not austere, or devoted, or engaged
in devotional service, nor to one who is envious of Me.
Chapter 18, Verse 68.
For one who explains
the supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and
at the end he will come back to Me.
Chapter 18, Verse 69.
There is no servant
in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more
dear.
Chapter 18, Verse 70.
And I declare that
he who studies this sacred conversation worships Me by his intelligence.
Chapter 18, Verse 71.
And one who listens
with faith and without envy becomes free from sinful reactions and attains
to the planets where the pious dwell.
Chapter 18, Verse 72.
O conqueror of wealth,
Arjuna, have you heard this attentively with your mind? And are your illusions
and ignorance now dispelled?
Chapter 18, Verse 73.
Arjuna said, My dear
Krsna, O infallible one, my illusion is now gone. I have regained my memory
by Your mercy, and I am now firm and free from doubt and am prepared to
act according to Your instructions.
Chapter 18, Verse 74.
Sanjaya said: Thus
have I heard the conversation of two great souls, Krsna and Arjuna. And
so wonderful is that message that my hair is standing on end.
Chapter 18, Verse 75.
By the mercy of Vyasa,
I have heard these most confidential talks directly from the master of
all mysticism, Krsna, who was speaking personally to Arjuna.
Chapter 18, Verse 76.
O King, as I repeatedly
recall this wondrous and holy dialogue between Krsna and Arjuna, I take
pleasure, being thrilled at every moment.
Chapter 18, Verse 77.
O King, when I remember
the wonderful form of Lord Krsna, I am struck with even greater wonder,
and I rejoice again and again.
Chapter 18, Verse 78.
Wherever there is Krsna,
the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer,
there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and
morality. That is my opinion.
  
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