Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 8 (BG 18.8) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

18.8 दुःखम् (it is) painful? इति thus? एव even? यत् which? कर्म action? कायक्लेशभयात् from fear of bodily trouble? त्यजेत् abandons? सः he? कृत्वा performing? राजसम् Rajasic? त्यागम् abandonment? न not? एव even? त्यागफलम् the fruit of abandonment? लभेत् obtains.Commentary Phalam Fruit or reward Moksha or emancipation which is the reward of renunciation of all actions accompanied with wisdom.Determination and persistence are reired for the performance of religious duties and actions. One may begin action but may relinish it before it is completed on account of some difficulties or physical suffering. What then is Sattvic renunciation The Lord says --

Commentaries

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# BG 18.8 If a person abandons the duties prescribed for him, deeming them burdensome and fearing bodily hardship, such renunciation is said to be of the passionate nature. For the person of passionate temperament will readily undertake duties if they are not troublesome and exhausting. Yet one who, though engaged in action, cannot relinquish personal comfort and ease can never be called noble or courageous. Such actions yield no special reward. The Lord declares that one who renounces in this manner obtains no fruit of that renunciation. In truth, the fulfillment of one's duties itself is the greatest renunciation—and it becomes even more exalted when one must also surrender bodily comforts and conveniences. Arjuna himself was hesitating to fight and turning away from his duty, and his renunciation could thus be called of the passionate order. Authentic renunciation ever leads us into the vaster realm of self-expression, where we may experience the supreme divine bliss. Through renunciation, a bud unfolds into a flower, and that flower attains the fullness of fruition only by surrendering its tender petals and fragrant beauty.