In Bhagavad Gita 18.8, Krishna says one who gives up action because it is painful or for fear of bodily trouble performs rajasic relinquishment and does not gain its fruit.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
दुःखमित्येव यत्कर्म
कायक्लेशभयात्त्यजेत्
स कृत्वा राजसं त्यागं
नैव त्यागफलं लभेत् ॥ १८-८ ॥
duḥkhamityeva yatkarma
kāyakleśabhayāttyajet
sa kṛtvā rājasaṃ tyāgaṃ
naiva tyāgaphalaṃ labhet
English transliteration duhkhamityeva yatkarma
kaayakleshabhayaattyajet
sa kritvaa raajasam tyaagam
naiva tyaagaphalam labhet ॥ 18.8 ॥
Translation / Meaning
One who gives up action simply because it is painful, or out of fear of bodily discomfort, performs rajasic relinquishment and does not obtain the fruit of relinquishment.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| दुःखम् duḥkham | painful |
| इति iti | thus |
| एव eva | simply |
| यत् yat | which |
| कर्म karma | action |
| कायक्लेशभयात् kāyakleśabhayāt | out of fear of bodily discomfort kāya (body) + kleśa (discomfort) + bhayāt (fear) |
| त्यजेत् tyajet | gives up |
| सः saḥ | he |
| कृत्वा kṛtvā | performing |
| राजसम् rājasam | rajasic |
| त्यागम् tyāgam | relinquishment |
| न na | not |
| एव eva | indeed |
| त्यागफलम् tyāgaphalam | the fruit of relinquishment tyāga (relinquishment) + phalam (fruit) |
| लभेत् labhet | obtains |
Word-wise Chanting
- duḥ–kha–mit–ye–va yat–kar–ma 8 syllables duh-kha-mit-ye-va yat-kar-ma
- kā–yak–le–śa–bha–yāt–tya–jet | 8 syllables kaa-yak-le-sha-bha-yaat-tya-jet
- sa kṛt–vā rā–ja–saṃ tyā–gaṃ 8 syllables sa krit-vaa raa-ja-sam tyaa-gam
- nai–va tyā–ga–pha–laṃ la–bhet || 18-8 8 syllables nai-va tyaa-ga-pha-lam la-bhet
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 8
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of relinquishment (18.7–18.9).
Meaning
Giving up a duty because it is duḥkha, difficult, or out of kāya-kleśa-bhaya, fear of physical hardship, is rājasa tyāga. Such renunciation brings none of the peace that true relinquishment brings.
Avoiding discomfort is natural, but it is not renunciation. True relinquishment gives up selfishness, not effort.
In Practice
Do one difficult but right task today without avoiding it for comfort’s sake.
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.