The Act And The Actor (18.1-6)🔗

Arjuna speaks now after being silent for a long time. He will stop speaking soon. He has become a flower due to the cosmic vision that Kṛṣṇa showered on him.

Arjuna says, 'I wish to understand the purpose of renunciation, tyāga and of the monastic life of Sannyāsa. O Hriśikesa (Kṛṣṇa), please tell me the truth. (18.1)' Arjuna is confused about the act and the actor. What is important is the act. Anyone can be the actor.

Kṛṣṇa gives His ultimate opinion. Earlier He explains what others said about renunciation, as either giving up the activity itself or the results of the activity. Now He says that His opinion on renunciation is living without attachment, saṅgaṁ tyaktvā phalāni ca (18.6).

No other Master is as compassionate as Kṛṣṇa. It is Śrī Kṛṣṇa in the form of the Ultimate who originally created the scriptures and laws. He says that any process of renunciation should be considered in the context in which it is performed. Renunciation can be of three types: enriching sacrifice, charity and penance; yajña, dāna, tapaḥ. These purify even those who are already evolved and pure.

Kṛṣṇa says that any sacrifice done for the welfare or enrichment of humanity is not to be given up. As enriching sacrifices, yajñas are meant to achieve the supreme, performing charity, dāna is recommended to purify one's heart and put one on the path of spiritual progress.

'All these enriching activities should be performed, without attachment or expectation of results, as a matter of responsibility, and this is My final opinion,' says the Master.

Duty Without Delusion (18.7-18.12)

Kṛṣṇa says that nitya karma or obligatory responsibilities must be followed with discipline and consistency; they vary from person to person. Kṛṣṇa says that doing what needs to be done because that is our responsibility, without attachment to the action and without desire, is the ideal condition of satva.

The consciousness of 'I' and 'mine', in terms of the performance of the activity should be absent. The consciousness of 'feeling responsible in your being' should be present. Renunciation is in the true spirit of completion, satva or goodness, only when a person renounces the expectation of result.