Verse 18.5
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत् | यज्ञो दानं तपश्चैव पावनानि मनीषिणाम् ||५||
Transliteration (IAST)
yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-karma na tyājyaṁ kāryam eva tat | yajño dānaṁ tapaś caiva pāvanāni manīṣiṇām ||5||
Word-by-Word Meanings
yajña-sacrifice
dāna-charity
tapaḥ-austerity
karma-action
na tyājyam-should not be abandoned
kāryam-must be performed
pāvanāni-purifying
manīṣiṇām-for the wise
Translation
Acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity should not be abandoned; they must indeed be performed. Sacrifice, charity, and austerity are purifying for the wise.
Commentary
Krishna resolves the debate from verse 3 decisively: sacred duties must never be abandoned. Shankaracharya explains that these three categories of action purify the mind and prepare it for liberation. Madhva emphasizes that even the liberated soul continues these actions as service to God.
Themes
karmadharmamoksha