Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 7

Chapter 18 – Moksha Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

नियतस्य तु संन्यासः कर्मणो नोपपद्यते ।
मोहात्तस्य परित्यागस्तामसः परिकीर्तितः ॥

Transliteration

niyatasya tu saṃnyāsaḥ karmaṇo nopapadyate .
mohāttasya parityāgastāmasaḥ parikīrtitaḥ ॥

Meaning

The renunciation of prescribed duty is not proper. Giving it up out of delusion is declared to be tamasic relinquishment.

Word meanings

नियतस्य – of prescribed, obligatory duty
तु – but
संन्यासः – renunciation
कर्मणः – of action
न उपपद्यते – is not proper, is not justified
मोहात् – out of delusion
तस्य – of it
परित्यागः – complete abandonment
तामसः – of the nature of tamas
परिकीर्तितः – is declared

Anvaya (word order)

नियतस्य कर्मणः तु संन्यासः न उपपद्यते; मोहात् तस्य परित्यागः तामसः परिकीर्तितः ।

Explanation

Krishna now begins his description of the three kinds of relinquishment, starting with the lowest — tamasic relinquishment. Niyata karma means the duties appropriate to a person's station, nature and scriptural injunction: study for a student, care of the family for a householder, righteous battle for a warrior. To renounce such duties na upapadyate — is not justified — for they sustain both life and the social order, and through them the mind is purified.

When someone abandons duty because of moha, delusion, that relinquishment is tamasic. Delusion here means the clouding of discrimination between right and wrong. A person might reason, 'All action binds, so I will do nothing,' and then sink into idleness and inertia. Outwardly it may resemble renunciation, but inwardly it is ignorance and dullness.

This verse applies directly to Arjuna. In the first chapter, overcome by delusion, he was ready to abandon his prescribed duty — the righteous war — and he mistook this for renunciation and compassion. Krishna now makes plain that such delusion-born giving up is tamasic, not sattvic.

Shankara notes that for one who has not yet realised the Self, obligatory duty is a means of purification; abandoning it harms oneself, and because it springs from delusion it is tamasic. Ramanuja adds that daily and occasional duties are worship of the Lord, so to drop them as though they were mere bondage is a reversal of right understanding.

Context

In the previous verse Krishna gave his highest view: act without attachment and desire for fruit. Now he classifies relinquishment into three types. This verse describes the tamasic kind; the next (18.8) describes the rajasic, and 18.9 the sattvic.

Life lesson

Do not run from duty and call your laziness or confusion 'detachment'. The responsibilities your life has given you are the very means of your growth. When confused, pause, reflect with clarity, or seek guidance before deciding.

Key terms

Niyata karma: Duty prescribed by one's station and scripture
Moha: Delusion; clouding of discernment
Tamasic tyaga: Abandoning duty out of ignorance and inertia
Parityaga: Complete abandonment