Bhagavad Gita 18.8 meaningLetting go — and standing up
In simple wordsSo simple a child gets it
“Quitting because it’s hard doesn’t help either.”
What it means
“Giving up a duty because it's hard or uncomfortable is restless renunciation, and it brings none of the benefits of letting go.”
The original Sanskrit
दुःखमित्येव यत्कर्म कायक्लेशभयात्त्यजेत् । स कृत्वा राजसं त्यागं नैव त्यागफलं लभेत् ॥
duḥkhamityeva yatkarma kāyakleśabhayāttyajet sa kṛtvā rājasaṃ tyāgaṃ naiva tyāgaphalaṃ labhet
Translations
Literal translation
Whatever action one may relinquish merely as being painful, from fear of physical suffering, he, having resorted to renunciation based on rajas, will surely not acquire the fruits of renunciation.
Swami Gambhirananda
हिंदी अनुवाद
जो मनुष्य, कर्म को दु:ख समझकर शारीरिक कष्ट के भय से त्याग देता है, वह पुरुष उस राजस िक त्याग को करके कदापि त्याग के फल को प्राप्त नहीं होता है।
Swami Tejomayananda
Go deeper
Commentaries
How great teachers across 1,200 years have explained this verse.
Loading commentaries…
Keep reading · 18.9“Doing what needs to be done simply because it is right, while letting go of attachment and results — that is clear renunciation.”