Chapter 18, Verse 8
दुःखमित्येव यत्कर्म कायक्लेशभयात्त्यजेत् | स कृत्वा राजसं त्यागं नैव त्यागफलं लभेत् ||१८-८||
duḥkhamityeva yatkarma kāyakleśabhayāttyajet . sa kṛtvā rājasaṃ tyāgaṃ naiva tyāgaphalaṃ labhet ||18-8||
Meaning
He who abandons action on account of the fear of bodily trouble (because it is painful), does not obtain the merit of renunciation by doing such Rajasic renunciation.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
The second category is rajasic renunciation, driven by passion's twin — aversion. Here a person drops a duty simply because it is uncomfortable, fearing kaya-klesha, bodily strain or trouble. This is not high principle but mere avoidance of difficulty.
Krishna's verdict is firm: such a person gains none of the true fruit of renunciation. Quitting because something is hard is not spiritual; it is rajas dressed up as wisdom. The genuine renunciate releases attachment, not effort. Real tyaga is measured by inner freedom, never by the comfort one manages to preserve.
💡 Key Takeaway
Quitting your duty just because it is hard or uncomfortable earns none of renunciation's reward.
Related Verses
यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत् | यज्ञो दानं तपश्चैव पावनानि मनीषिणाम् ||१८-५||
yajñadānatapaḥkarma na tyājyaṃ kāryameva tat . yajño dānaṃ tapaścaiva pāvanāni manīṣiṇām ||18-5||
Acts of sacrifice, gift and austerity should not be abandoned, but should be performed; sacrifice, gift and also austerity are the purifiers of the wise.
एतान्यपि तु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलानि च | कर्तव्यानीति मे पार्थ निश्चितं मतमुत्तमम् ||१८-६||
etānyapi tu karmāṇi saṅgaṃ tyaktvā phalāni ca . kartavyānīti me pārtha niścitaṃ matamuttamam ||18-6||
But even these actions should be performed leaving aside attachment and the desire for rewards, O Arjuna; this is My certain and best conviction.
नियतस्य तु संन्यासः कर्मणो नोपपद्यते | मोहात्तस्य परित्यागस्तामसः परिकीर्तितः ||१८-७||
niyatasya tu saṃnyāsaḥ karmaṇo nopapadyate . mohāttasya parityāgastāmasaḥ parikīrtitaḥ ||18-7||
Verily the renunciation of obligatory action is not proper; the abandonment of the same from delusion is declared to be Tamasic.