एतान्यपि तु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलानि च |
कर्तव्यानीति मे पार्थ निश्चितं मतमुत्तमम् || 6||
etāny api tu karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā phalāni cha
kartavyānīti me pārtha niśhchitaṁ matam uttamam
etāni—these; api tu—must certainly be; karmāṇi—activities; saṅgam—attachment; tyaktvā—giving up; phalāni—rewards; cha—and; kartavyāni—should be done as duty; iti—such; me—my; pārtha—Arjun, the son of Pritha; niśhchitam—definite; matam—opinion; uttamam—supreme
Translation:
Verily these acts should be performed leaving aside attachment (doership) and the fruits; this is my certain and best opinion.
Commentary:
The Lord here explains how acts of yajna, dana and tapas should be performed. The principle is that the performer should give up the idea of doership and abandon any desire to enjoy the fruits of work. These two evils (1) the feeling ‘I am the doer’, and (2) ‘I will get this reward for my doing this work’ – bind man to the wheel of birth and death. They cause bondage. Therefore, the true seekers should learn to conduct these sacrifices, charities and austerities with a pure heart, giving up everything to the Lord. They attain liberation (Moksha). The Lord declares that this His decision is the ‘best’. Thus inspired by the Lord, let mankind act to His command and attain the Highest.
Sri Ramakrishna Says —
Sri Ramakrishna: Of little use are worship, oblations, or sacrifice.
If a man comes to love God, he need not trouble himself much about these activities. One needs a fan only as long as there is no breeze. The fan may be laid aside if the southern breeze blows. Then what need is there of a fan?
(To Vidyasagar) “The activities that you are engaged in are good. It is very good if you can perform them in a selfless spirit, renouncing egotism, giving up the idea that you are the doer. Through such action one develops love and devotion to God, and ultimately realises Him.
“The more you come to love God, the less you will be inclined to perform action. When the daughter-in-law is with child, her mother-in-law gives her less work to do. As time goes by she is given less and less work. When the time of delivery nears, she is not allowed to do any work at all, lest it should hurt the child or cause difficulty at the time of birth.
“By these philanthropic activities you are really doing good to yourself. If you can do them disinterestedly, your mind will become pure and you will develop love of God. As soon as you have that love you will realise Him. (Source: Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna)
Related Articles:
- But he who rejoices, who is contented, who finds happiness in Atma only, has no work to perform. (BG 3.17)
- For him, there is in this world no interest whatsoever by work done or not done. He does not depend upon any being for any object. (BG 3.18)
- O Arjuna! Steadfast in Yoga, giving up all attachment, unmindful of success or failure, do your work. Such equanimity of mind is called Yoga. (BG 2.48)
- In this, no effort is ever lost and no harm is ever done. Even very little of this dharma saves a man from the Great Fear. (BG 2.40)
Question: How should acts of Yajna etc, be performed?
Answer: Without a sense of doership and without attachment for their fruits.
Question: What is the Lord’s decision?
Answer: It is the best, conclusively proved by the Lord Himself.
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 |
