In Bhagavad Gita 18.5, Krishna says acts of sacrifice, charity and austerity should not be abandoned but performed, for they purify even the wise.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यज्ञदानतपःकर्म
न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत्
यज्ञो दानं तपश्चैव
पावनानि मनीषिणाम् ॥ १८-५ ॥
yajñadānatapaḥkarma
na tyājyaṃ kāryameva tat
yajño dānaṃ tapaścaiva
pāvanāni manīṣiṇām
English transliteration yajnadaanatapahkarma
na tyaajyam kaaryameva tat
yajno daanam tapashchaiva
paavanaani maneeshinaam ॥ 18.5 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Acts of sacrifice, charity and austerity should not be abandoned; they should indeed be performed. Sacrifice, charity and austerity are purifiers even of the wise.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यज्ञदानतपःकर्म yajñadānatapaḥkarma | acts of sacrifice, charity and austerity |
| न na | not |
| त्याज्यम् tyājyam | should be abandoned |
| कार्यम् kāryam | should be performed |
| एव eva | indeed |
| तत् tat | that |
| यज्ञः yajñaḥ | sacrifice |
| दानम् dānam | charity |
| तपः tapaḥ | austerity |
| च ca | and |
| एव eva | indeed |
| पावनानि pāvanāni | purifiers |
| मनीषिणाम् manīṣiṇām | of the wise |
Word-wise Chanting
- ya–jña–dā–na–ta–paḥ–kar–ma 8 syllables ya-jna-daa-na-ta-pah-kar-ma
- na tyāj–yaṃ kār–ya–me–va tat | 8 syllables na tyaaj-yam kaar-ya-me-va tat
- ya–jño dā–naṃ ta–paś–cai–va 8 syllables ya-jno daa-nam ta-pash-chai-va
- pā–va–nā–ni ma–nī–ṣi–ṇām || 18-5 8 syllables paa-va-naa-ni ma-nee-shi-naam
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 5
Context
Krishna states his view (18.4–18.6).
Meaning
Krishna sides with those who say sacred acts must not be abandoned. Yajña, dāna and tapas are pāvana, purifying, even for the manīṣin, the wise. No one is so advanced that they no longer need these practices.
Spiritual maturity does not mean giving up good practices; it means doing them in the right spirit.
In Practice
Continue your practices of worship, generosity and discipline today, recognising them as purifying.
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.