Verse 18.7
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
नियतस्य तु सन्न्यासः कर्मणो नोपपद्यते | मोहात्तस्य परित्यागस्तामसः परिकीर्तितः ||७||
Transliteration (IAST)
niyatasya tu sannyāsaḥ karmaṇo nopapadyate | mohāt tasya parityāgas tāmasaḥ parikīrtitaḥ ||7||
Word-by-Word Meanings
niyatasya-of prescribed/obligatory
sannyāsaḥ-renunciation
karmaṇaḥ-of action
na upapadyate-is not proper
mohāt-out of delusion
parityāgaḥ-abandonment
tāmasaḥ-in the mode of ignorance
Translation
The renunciation of obligatory action is not proper. Its abandonment out of delusion is declared to be tamasic (in the mode of ignorance).
Commentary
Krishna begins the threefold classification of tyaga. Tamasic renunciation means abandoning one's prescribed duties out of confusion or laziness. Shankaracharya explains that niyata karma (obligatory duties) cannot be legitimately renounced. Madhva adds that such abandonment increases spiritual darkness.
Themes
karmadharma
Related Verses
karma1 verse