In Bhagavad Gita 18.7, Krishna says renouncing obligatory duties is improper; abandoning them through delusion is called tamasic.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
नियतस्य तु संन्यासः
कर्मणो नोपपद्यते
मोहात्तस्य परित्यागस्
तामसः परिकीर्तितः ॥ १८-७ ॥
niyatasya tu saṃnyāsaḥ
karmaṇo nopapadyate
mohāttasya parityāgas
tāmasaḥ parikīrtitaḥ
English transliteration niyatasya tu samnyaasah
karmano nopapadyate
mohaattasya parityaagas
taamasah parikeertitah ॥ 18.7 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Renunciation of obligatory action is not proper. Abandoning it out of delusion is declared to be tamasic.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| नियतस्य niyatasya | of obligatory |
| तु tu | but |
| संन्यासः saṃnyāsaḥ | renunciation |
| कर्मणः karmaṇaḥ | of action |
| न na | not |
| उपपद्यते upapadyate | is proper |
| मोहात् mohāt | out of delusion |
| तस्य tasya | its |
| परित्यागः parityāgaḥ | abandoning |
| तामसः tāmasaḥ | tamasic |
| परिकीर्तितः parikīrtitaḥ | is declared |
Word-wise Chanting
- ni–ya–tas–ya tu saṃn–yā–saḥ 8 syllables ni-ya-tas-ya tu samn-yaa-sah
- kar–ma–ṇo no–pa–pad–ya–te | 8 syllables kar-ma-no no-pa-pad-ya-te
- mo–hāt–tas–ya pa–rit–yā–gas– 8 syllables mo-haat-tas-ya pa-rit-yaa-gas-
- tā–ma–saḥ pa–ri–kīr–ti–taḥ || 18-7 8 syllables taa-ma-sah pa-ri-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 7
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of relinquishment (18.7–18.9).
Meaning
Niyata karma, one’s obligatory duties, should not be renounced. To abandon them out of moha, confusion or laziness, is tāmasa tyāga, renunciation in the mode of darkness.
Avoiding duties and calling it spirituality is a common trap. True renunciation never means neglecting responsibilities.
In Practice
Fulfil one duty today that you have been avoiding.
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.