Verse 18.1
Speaker: Arjuna
Sanskrit
अर्जुन उवाच | सन्न्यासस्य महाबाहो तत्त्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम् | त्यागस्य च हृषीकेश पृथक्केशिनिषूदन ||१||
Transliteration (IAST)
arjuna uvāca | sannyāsasya mahā-bāho tattvam icchāmi veditum | tyāgasya ca hṛṣīkeśa pṛthak keśi-niṣūdana ||1||
Word-by-Word Meanings
Translation
Arjuna said: O mighty-armed one, I wish to know the truth about renunciation (sannyasa) and about relinquishment (tyaga) separately, O Hrishikesha, O slayer of Keshi.
Commentary
Arjuna opens the final chapter by seeking clarity on two related but distinct concepts: sannyasa (complete renunciation of action) and tyaga (relinquishment of the fruits of action). Shankaracharya notes that Arjuna uses three names of Krishna to indicate the gravity of his question. Ramanuja explains that this question arises from apparent contradictions in earlier teachings about action and renunciation.