Bhagavad Geeta 18:02—Moksha Sanyasa Yoga—The Path of Liberation by Renunciation

Bhagavad Geeta 18:02—Moksha Sanyasa Yoga—The Path of Liberation by Renunciation

श्रीभगवानुवाच |
काम्यानां कर्मणां न्यासं सन्न्यासं कवयो विदु: |
सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं प्राहुस्त्यागं विचक्षणा: || 2||

śhrī-bhagavān uvācha
kāmyānāṁ karmaṇāṁ nyāsaṁ sannyāsaṁ kavayo viduḥ
sarva-karma-phala-tyāgaṁ prāhus tyāgaṁ vichakṣhaṇāḥ

The Blessed Lord said: The renunciation of kamya karma, the sages understand as Sanyasa; the wise declare the abandonment of the fruits of all works as Tyaga.

Kamya karma requires to be clarified. Hankering after health, wealth, long life, progeny, name, fame, title and social status — all these come under kamya karma. Under this category comes also the hope for various heavenly enjoyments after death. That it is Sanyasa to renounce all these desires, is the view of some sages. There are others who acclaim that it is Tyaga to abandon the fruits of all actions such as nitya or obligatory ones, naimitya or the occasional specific ones and kmmya or the Optional work. Kamya karmas are those that create new bondages leading to rebirths for the fulfillment of desires that prompted those actions. Seeds for further transmigrations should not be sown by those aspirants who are intent on gaining liberation. When the fruits of the various works are not cared for, that attitude is Tyaga, which prepares the sadhaka for emancipation. This is the view of a second set of sages.

The aspirants endowed with sattva guna need not do any karma. In fact, all activities drop off from them, of their own accord. Any endeavour on their part to retain karma proves itself futile. The Lord Himself releases them from all duties. The domestic activities of a pregnant young woman are reduced as her pregnancy advances. After delivery she has no work except looking after the babe. Such is the case with those imbued with sattva. But the others who are not sattvikas should necessarily engage themselves in their allotted duties. As the servant of a rich man does the work assigned to him, the devotees of the Lord should discharge their duties, holding them all as the Maker’s mandate. The Lord’s name ought to be repeated mentally while the activities are going on at the physical level. At the appointed times meditation on the Lord may also be carried on. This is the gist of the Karma yoga. — Sri Ramakrishna

Source: Srimad Bhagavad Geeta-Commentary by Swami Chidbhavananda