Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 18, Verse 9

कार्यमित्येव यत्कर्म नियतं क्रियतेऽर्जुन |
सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलं चैव स त्याग: सात्त्विको मत: || 9||

kāryam ity eva yat karma niyataṁ kriyate ‘rjuna
saṅgaṁ tyaktvā phalaṁ chaiva sa tyāgaḥ sāttviko mataḥ

kāryam—as a duty; iti—as; eva—indeed; yat—which; karma niyatam—obligatory actions; kriyate—are performed; arjuna—Arjun; saṅgam—attachment; tyaktvā—relinquishing; phalam—reward; cha—and; eva—certainly; saḥ—such; tyāgaḥ—renunciation of desires for enjoying the fruits of actions; sāttvikaḥ—in the mode of goodness; mataḥ—considered

Translation:

“This ought to be done as prescribed by the Sastras” – thus knowing, whatsoever work is done without attachment and desire for fruit, that renunciation is regarded as Sattvic.

Commentary:

From this verse, one should clearly understand that renunciation of attachment and desire for fruit, is Sattvic renunciation, and not certainly the abandoning of obligatory duties. The word ‘karyam’ is used to show that prescribed sastraic duties ought to be performed. The ignorant man neglects them from delusion, and the Rajasic man abandons them from fear of bodily pain. The Sattvic man understands the real value of the duties prescribed in the Sastras, and performs them in spite of bodily discomfort, without a sense of doership, without attachment for their rewards. This type of renunciation is true Tyaga, and by such Tyaga, man attains purity and liberation.

Question: What is the nature of Sattvic Tyaga?

Answer: Knowing that certain duties are prescribed by the Sastras, to perform them without attachment and desire for fruits, is Sattvic renunciation.

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 18 🔻 (78 Verses)

01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40
41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50
51	52	53	54	55	56	57	58	59	60
61	62	63	64	65	66	67	68	69	70
71	72	73	74	75	76	77	78