Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 18, verse 8 · Krishna
Bhagavad Gita 18.8 · Duhkhamityeva Yatkarma
दुःखमित्येव यत्कर्म कायक्लेशभयात्त्यजेत् ।
स कृत्वा राजसं त्यागं नैव त्यागफलं लभेत् ॥
duḥkhamityeva yatkarma kāyakleśabhayāttyajet |
sa kṛtvā rājasaṃ tyāgaṃ naiva tyāgaphalaṃ labhet ||
Translation
One who gives up an action merely because it is painful, out of fear of bodily strain, performs a rajasic (passion-driven) relinquishment and does not gain its fruit.
Context
Spoken by Krishna in chapter 18, Moksha Sannyasa Yoga — “Liberation through Renunciation”, which has 78 verses.
Frequently asked questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 18.8 mean?
One who gives up an action merely because it is painful, out of fear of bodily strain, performs a rajasic (passion-driven) relinquishment and does not gain its fruit.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 18.8?
Krishna, speaking to Arjuna, in chapter 18, Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Liberation through Renunciation).
Sanskrit text: traditional, public domain. Translation and explanation are our own.