Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 18 · Moksha Sannyasa Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 18.11 न हि देहभृता शक्यं त्यक्तुं कर्माण्यशेषतः
श्लोक 18.11
न हि देहभृता शक्यं त्यक्तुं कर्माण्यशेषतः ।
यस्तु कर्मफलत्यागी स त्यागीत्यभिधीयते ॥
na hi dehabhṛtā śakyaṃ tyaktuṃ karmāṇyaśeṣataḥ |
yastu karmaphalatyāgī sa tyāgītyabhidhīyate ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
देहधारी के लिए सभी कर्मों को पूरी तरह छोड़ देना संभव नहीं है। परंतु जो कर्मफल का त्याग करता है, वही सच्चा त्यागी कहलाता है।
Meaning in English
It is indeed impossible for an embodied being to give up actions entirely. But one who gives up the fruits of action is called a true relinquisher.
Bhagavad Gita 18.11 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| न हि | na hi | indeed not |
| देहभृता | deha-bhṛtā | by an embodied being |
| शक्यम् | śakyam | possible |
| त्यक्तुम् | tyaktum | to give up |
| कर्माणि | karmāṇi | actions |
| अशेषतः | aśeṣataḥ | entirely |
| यः | yaḥ | who |
| तु | tu | but |
| कर्मफलत्यागी | karma-phala-tyāgī | one who gives up the fruits of action |
| सः | saḥ | he |
| त्यागी | tyāgī | a relinquisher |
| इति | iti | thus |
| अभिधीयते | abhidhīyate | is called |
Explanation
No one who has a body can give up action completely; breathing, eating and moving are themselves actions. So the person who gives up the fruits of action is the one rightly called a relinquisher. Renunciation lies in the attitude, not in stopping all activity.
The verse echoes 3.5, where Krishna said no one can remain without action even for a moment. Shankara adds that the embodied being here means one who still identifies with the body, so complete renunciation is possible only for the knower who sees the Self as actionless. Ramanuja reads it as a universal statement and a strong argument for karma-yoga. Tilak used the verse to argue that the Gita teaches active life over withdrawal.
भावार्थ
शरीरधारी के लिए सब कर्मों को पूरी तरह छोड़ देना संभव नहीं है। इसलिए जो कर्मफल का त्याग करता है, वही त्यागी कहलाता है।
Living it today
You cannot stop acting, so choose how you act. Let go of the outcome instead of the effort.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 18.11?
No one who has a body can give up action completely; breathing, eating and moving are themselves actions. So the person who gives up the fruits of action is the one rightly called a relinquisher. Renunciation lies in the attitude, not in stopping all activity.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 18.11?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 18 (Moksha Sannyasa Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 18.11 in daily life?
You cannot stop acting, so choose how you act. Let go of the outcome instead of the effort.
Reflected on verse 18.11?
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