Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 11

Chapter 18 – Moksha Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

न हि देहभृता शक्यं त्यक्तुं कर्माण्यशेषतः ।
यस्तु कर्मफलत्यागी स त्यागीत्यभिधीयते ॥

Transliteration

na hi dehabhṛtā śakyaṃ tyaktuṃ karmāṇyaśeṣataḥ .
yastu karmaphalatyāgī sa tyāgītyabhidhīyate ॥

Meaning

Indeed, it is not possible for an embodied being to give up actions entirely; but one who gives up the fruits of action is called a true relinquisher.

Word meanings

न हि – indeed not
देहभृता – by an embodied being
शक्यम् – possible
त्यक्तुम् – to give up
कर्माणि – actions
अशेषतः – entirely, without remainder
यः – who
तु – but
कर्मफलत्यागी – one who relinquishes the fruits of action
सः – he
त्यागी – relinquisher
इति – thus
अभिधीयते – is called

Anvaya (word order)

हि देहभृता कर्माणि अशेषतः त्यक्तुं न शक्यम्; यः तु कर्मफलत्यागी, सः त्यागी इति अभिधीयते ।

Explanation

This verse states a practical truth: as long as there is a body, there is action. Breathing, eating, sleeping, seeing, thinking — all these are actions. In the third chapter (3.5) Krishna already said that no one can remain without action even for a moment, since the gunas of nature compel everyone to act. Hence for a dehabhrit, an embodied being, it is impossible to give up action ashesatah, entirely.

Who, then, is a true renouncer? Krishna answers: the one who relinquishes the fruits of action. Action belongs to the body; attachment to fruit is the bondage of the mind. When the mind lets go of the fruit, actions continue but no longer bind. Renunciation, therefore, is not the absence of action but a new relationship to action.

The verse removes the illusion that one must leave home, family or work in order to become spiritual. Even an outward renunciant must eat, beg, think and interact; he too acts. The real question is not whether action is taking place, but in what spirit it is done.

Shankara clarifies that dehabhrit refers to one who identifies with the body. For such an unenlightened person total renunciation of action is impossible, so for him renouncing the fruit is renunciation; but the knower of the Self, who does not identify with the body, is in truth the renouncer of all action. Ramanuja takes the verse as a general principle applying to all seekers.

Context

The previous verse described the sattvic renouncer. This verse makes clear that true renunciation is the giving up of fruit, since total renunciation of action is impossible for one in a body. In the next verse (18.12) Krishna explains what results after death come to non-renouncers and to true renouncers.

Life lesson

Since escaping action is impossible, the wise course is to transform it. Instead of dropping your work, drop the craving and anxiety attached to it. True renunciation lies in the inner attitude, not in outer circumstances.

Key terms

Dehabhrit: One who bears a body; the embodied being
Ashesatah: Entirely, without remainder
Karma-phala-tyagi: One who acts while giving up attachment to results