Verse 18.11
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
न हि देहभृता शक्यं त्यक्तुं कर्माण्यशेषतः | यस्तु कर्मफलत्यागी स त्यागीत्यभिधीयते ||११||
Transliteration (IAST)
na hi deha-bhṛtā śakyaṁ tyaktuṁ karmāṇy aśeṣataḥ | yas tu karma-phala-tyāgī sa tyāgīty abhidhīyate ||11||
Word-by-Word Meanings
deha-bhṛtā-by an embodied being
śakyam-possible
tyaktum-to give up
karmāṇi-actions
aśeṣataḥ-entirely
karma-phala-tyāgī-one who renounces the fruits of action
tyāgī-the renouncer
abhidhīyate-is called
Translation
It is indeed impossible for an embodied being to give up actions entirely. But one who relinquishes the fruits of action is truly called a tyagi (renouncer).
Commentary
Krishna establishes a practical truth: as long as one has a body, complete inaction is impossible. Shankaracharya explains that even breathing and eating are actions. Therefore, true renunciation lies not in abandoning action but in abandoning attachment to results. Madhva considers this verse the definitive statement on the Gita's concept of tyaga.
Themes
karmamokshasurrender