In Bhagavad Gita 18.2, Krishna says sages understand sannyasa as giving up desire-driven actions, while the discerning call tyaga the relinquishment of the fruits of all actions.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
काम्यानां कर्मणां न्यासं
संन्यासं कवयो विदुः
सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं
प्राहुस्त्यागं विचक्षणाः ॥ १८-२ ॥
kāmyānāṃ karmaṇāṃ nyāsaṃ
saṃnyāsaṃ kavayo viduḥ
sarvakarmaphalatyāgaṃ
prāhustyāgaṃ vicakṣaṇāḥ
English transliteration kaamyaanaam karmanaam nyaasam
samnyaasam kavayo viduh
sarvakarmaphalatyaagam
praahustyaagam vichakshanaah ॥ 18.2 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The Blessed Lord said: The sages understand renunciation as the giving up of actions prompted by desire. The discerning declare the relinquishment of the fruits of all actions to be relinquishment.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| काम्यानाम् kāmyānām | prompted by desire |
| कर्मणाम् karmaṇām | of actions |
| न्यासम् nyāsam | giving up |
| संन्यासम् saṃnyāsam | renunciation |
| कवयः kavayaḥ | the sages |
| विदुः viduḥ | understand |
| सर्वकर्मफलत्यागम् sarvakarmaphalatyāgam | relinquishment of the fruits of all actions sarva (all) + karma (actions) + phala (fruits) + tyāgam (relinquishment) |
| प्राहुः prāhuḥ | declare |
| त्यागम् tyāgam | relinquishment |
| विचक्षणाः vicakṣaṇāḥ | the discerning |
Word-wise Chanting
- kām–yā–nāṃ kar–ma–ṇāṃ nyā–saṃ 8 syllables kaam-yaa-naam kar-ma-naam nyaa-sam
- saṃn–yā–saṃ ka–va–yo vi–duḥ | 8 syllables samn-yaa-sam ka-va-yo vi-duh
- sar–va–kar–ma–pha–lat–yā–gaṃ 8 syllables sar-va-kar-ma-pha-lat-yaa-gam
- prā–hus–tyā–gaṃ vi–ca–kṣa–ṇāḥ || 18-2 8 syllables praa-hus-tyaa-gam vi-cha-ksha-naah
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 2
Context
Krishna begins his answer by presenting existing views (18.2–18.3).
Meaning
Two definitions are given. Some kavis, sages, say saṃnyāsa is giving up kāmya karmas, actions done for personal desire. The vicakṣaṇas, discerning, say tyāga is giving up attachment to the phala, fruits, of all actions.
Krishna will favour the second view: not abandoning action, but abandoning attachment to its results.
In Practice
Notice whether your actions today are driven by desire for results or by a sense of what is right.
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.