In Bhagavad Gita 18.4, Krishna asks Arjuna to hear his conclusion about relinquishment, which is said to be of three kinds.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
निश्चयं शृणु मे तत्र
त्यागे भरतसत्तम
त्यागो हि पुरुषव्याघ्र
त्रिविधः सम्प्रकीर्तितः ॥ १८-४ ॥
niścayaṃ śṛṇu me tatra
tyāge bharatasattama
tyāgo hi puruṣavyāghra
trividhaḥ samprakīrtitaḥ
English transliteration nishchayam shrinu me tatra
tyaage bharatasattama
tyaago hi purushavyaaghra
trividhah samprakeertitah ॥ 18.4 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Hear My conclusion about relinquishment, O best of the Bharatas. Relinquishment, O tiger among men, has been declared to be of three kinds.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| निश्चयम् niścayam | conclusion |
| शृणु śṛṇu | hear |
| मे me | My |
| तत्र tatra | about that |
| त्यागे tyāge | relinquishment |
| भरतसत्तम bharatasattama | O best of the Bharatas bharata (Bharatas) + sattama (best) |
| त्यागः tyāgaḥ | relinquishment |
| हि hi | indeed |
| पुरुषव्याघ्र puruṣavyāghra | O tiger among men puruṣa (men) + vyāghra (tiger) |
| त्रिविधः trividhaḥ | of three kinds |
| सम्प्रकीर्तितः samprakīrtitaḥ | has been declared |
Word-wise Chanting
- niś–ca–yaṃ śṛ–ṇu me tat–ra 8 syllables nish-cha-yam shri-nu me tat-ra
- tyā–ge bha–ra–ta–sat–ta–ma | 8 syllables tyaa-ge bha-ra-ta-sat-ta-ma
- tyā–go hi pu–ru–ṣav–yāgh–ra 8 syllables tyaa-go hi pu-ru-shav-yaagh-ra
- tri–vi–dhaḥ sam–pra–kīr–ti–taḥ || 18-4 8 syllables tri-vi-dhah sam-pra-keer-ti-tah
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 4
Context
Krishna introduces his own view (18.4–18.6).
Meaning
Krishna now gives his niścaya, his firm conclusion. Tyāga, relinquishment, like everything in nature, has three forms, according to the three guṇas.
Krishna resolves debates not by choosing sides simply, but by analysing the quality of the action and motive.
In Practice
Before judging an act as good or bad, consider the motive and quality behind it.
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.