In Bhagavad Gita 18.1, Arjuna asks Krishna to explain the true nature of sannyasa, renunciation, and of tyaga, relinquishment, and the difference between them.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
संन्यासस्य महाबाहो
तत्त्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम्
त्यागस्य च हृषीकेश
पृथक्केशिनिषूदन ॥ १८-१ ॥
saṃnyāsasya mahābāho
tattvamicchāmi veditum
tyāgasya ca hṛṣīkeśa
pṛthakkeśiniṣūdana
English transliteration samnyaasasya mahaabaaho
tattvamichchhaami veditum
tyaagasya cha hrisheekesha
prithakkeshinishoodana ॥ 18.1 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Arjuna said: O mighty-armed, I wish to know the truth about renunciation, and also about relinquishment, O Hrishikesha, and the distinction between them, O slayer of Keshi.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| संन्यासस्य saṃnyāsasya | of renunciation |
| महाबाहो mahābāho | O mighty-armed |
| तत्त्वम् tattvam | the truth |
| इच्छामि icchāmi | I wish |
| वेदितुम् veditum | to know |
| त्यागस्य tyāgasya | of relinquishment |
| च ca | and |
| हृषीकेश hṛṣīkeśa | O Hṛṣīkeśa |
| पृथक् pṛthak | distinction |
| केशिनिषूदन keśiniṣūdana | O slayer of Keśī keśi (Keśī) + niṣūdana (slayer) |
Word-wise Chanting
- saṃn–yā–sas–ya ma–hā–bā–ho 8 syllables samn-yaa-sas-ya ma-haa-baa-ho
- tat–tva–mic–chā–mi ve–di–tum | 8 syllables tat-tva-mich-chhaa-mi ve-di-tum
- tyā–gas–ya ca hṛ–ṣī–ke–śa 8 syllables tyaa-gas-ya cha hri-shee-ke-sha
- pṛ–thak–ke–śi–ni–ṣū–da–na || 18-1 8 syllables pri-thak-ke-shi-ni-shoo-da-na
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 18 Verse 1
Context
Chapter 18, the Yoga of Liberation through Renunciation, opens with Arjuna’s final question. It summarises and completes the whole Gita.
Meaning
Throughout the Gita, Krishna has spoken of saṃnyāsa, renunciation of action, and tyāga, giving up the fruits of action. Arjuna now asks for the tattva, the precise truth, of each and the pṛthak, the difference, between them.
This question gathers the threads of the entire teaching. Krishna’s answer will clarify that true renunciation is inner, not merely outer.
In Practice
Ask yourself: what does renunciation mean in my life? What must I give up, and what must I keep doing?
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Liberation and Renunciation). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.