Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 18, Verse 3

त्याज्यं दोषवदित्येके कर्म प्राहुर्मनीषिण: |
यज्ञदानतप:कर्म न त्याज्यमिति चापरे || 3||

tyājyaṁ doṣha-vad ity eke karma prāhur manīṣhiṇaḥ
yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-karma na tyājyam iti chāpare

tyājyam—should be given up; doṣha-vat—as evil; iti—thus; eke—some; karma—actions; prāhuḥ—declare; manīṣhiṇaḥ—the learned; yajña—sacrifice; dāna—charity; tapaḥ—penance; karma—acts; na—never; tyājyam—should be abandoned; iti—thus; cha—and; apare—others

Translation:

Some philosophers declare that action should be abandoned as an evil, and others (declare) that acts of yajna, and Tapas should not be abandoned.

Commentary:

The samkhya philosophers declare that all work (Karma) should be abandoned as an evil. They say that work implies the existence of the body, senses, and the mind (Upadhi) as the instruments of action. Atma is the eternal witness, and hence the upadhi is to be discarded as non-existent, and when there is no upadhi, no action can take place at all.

Others argue differently. They say that there is no other way except Karma to purify the mind. Even bare existence is impossible without Karma. So, they declare that righteous work, purifying acts like sacrifice, austerity and charity should be performed. They ought not to be abandoned. Thus there is a difference of view about the performance and non-performance of Karma. Having stated the difference, the Lord proceeds to give his decisive opinion on this question.

Question: What is the view of some philosophers about Karma?

Answer: They (the Samkhyas) say that Karma should be abandoned as an evil. 

Question: What is the view of the others? 

Answer: They declare that righteous acts like sacrifice, austerity, and charity should not be abandoned. 

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