Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 10

Chapter 18 – Moksha Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

न द्वेष्ट्यकुशलं कर्म कुशले नानुषज्जते ।
त्यागी सत्त्वसमाविष्टो मेधावी छिन्नसंशयः ॥

Transliteration

na dveṣṭyakuśalaṃ karma kuśale nānuṣajjate .
tyāgī sattvasamāviṣṭo medhāvī chinnasaṃśayaḥ ॥

Meaning

The relinquisher who is pervaded by sattva, who is wise and whose doubts are cut away, neither dislikes disagreeable action nor is attached to agreeable action.

Word meanings

न द्वेष्टि – does not hate
अकुशलम् – disagreeable, unpleasant
कर्म – action
कुशले – in agreeable, pleasant (action)
न अनुषज्जते – is not attached
त्यागी – the relinquisher
सत्त्वसमाविष्टः – pervaded by sattva
मेधावी – intelligent, wise
छिन्नसंशयः – whose doubts are dispelled

Anvaya (word order)

सत्त्वसमाविष्टः मेधावी छिन्नसंशयः त्यागी अकुशलं कर्म न द्वेष्टि, कुशले न अनुषज्जते ।

Explanation

Having defined sattvic relinquishment, Krishna now paints the inner portrait of the sattvic renouncer. His first mark is equanimity: he does not hate akushala karma, nor is he attached to kushala karma. Akushala actions are those that feel unpleasant, difficult or distasteful; kushala actions are pleasant, honourable or congenial. Ordinary people choose and avoid actions according to likes and dislikes; for the sattvic renouncer both are equal, because his measure is not preference but duty.

Shankara also reads akushala as desire-prompted rites and kushala as obligatory ones: such a renouncer neither hates the former nor clings to the latter with the thought, 'This will liberate me.' Both readings point to the same essence: a consciousness lifted above attraction and aversion.

Three epithets describe his inner nature. Sattva-samavishta: his mind is filled with sattva — clear, calm and luminous. Medhavi: he possesses the intelligence that discriminates the Self from the not-Self. Chhinna-samshaya: his doubts are cut away; he is clear about what is to be done and why. Doubt is what weakens action — and Arjuna's crisis itself began with doubt.

The verse holds up an ideal for Arjuna. The war seemed akushala, distasteful, to him. Krishna shows that the true renouncer does not resent even an unpleasant duty. When the mind is full of sattva and doubt has vanished, even the hardest duty becomes natural.

Context

The previous verse defined sattvic relinquishment. This verse describes the qualities of the sattvic renouncer. In the next verse (18.11) Krishna explains that total abandonment of action is impossible for an embodied being, so the true renouncer is one who gives up the fruit of action.

Life lesson

Choose your tasks not by liking and disliking but by need and duty. Do unpleasant work without complaint, and do not let pride creep into work you enjoy. Clarity and discernment cut through doubts and make action effortless.

Key terms

Akushala karma: Action that seems unpleasant or difficult
Kushala karma: Action that seems pleasant or agreeable
Sattva-samavishta: Pervaded by sattva
Medhavi: Possessed of discerning intelligence
Chhinna-samshaya: One whose doubts have been destroyed