Chapter 18 is the final & concluding chapter where the ideas expressed in all the previous chapters are summarised. It starts with the distinction between renunciation & relinquishment.Describes the 3 types of work, agent, intellect & resolve, & duties of the 4 classes of people. Finally, the Lord explain how one can become eligible for following the path of knowledge by selfless actions, & after attaining knowledge, how to attain the status of Brahman.

1. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
T. K. G. NAMBOODHIRI
THIRUVALLA, KERALA
INDIA

2. BHAGAVAD GITA – THE DIVINE
SONG-An Introduction
 Bhagavad Gita-Part of the
Sanskrit Epic
Mahabhaaratha.(200 BC to 200
AD)
 700 verses in 18 chapters.
 A conversation between Lord
Krishna and his close friend
Arjuna in the middle of the
battlefield just before the start
of the Kurukshetra battle.
 Arjuna loses his heart and
refuses to fight his teachers
and relatives, and Krishna
revives him by his wise words
of wisdom.
TKG Namboodhiri

3. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
CHAPTER 18
MOKSHASANYAASA YOGA
THE YOGA OF LIBERATION &
RENUNCIATION
TKG Namboodhiri

4. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
THIS CONCLUDING CHAPTER OF BHAGAVAD GITA
SUMMARISES THE CONTENTS OF THE ENTIRE SCIENCE
OF THE GITA. THE IDEAS EXPRESSED IN ALL THE
PREVIOUS CHAPTERS MAY BE GRASPED FROM THIS
CHAPTER ALONE.THIS 78 VERSES-LONG CHAPTER
STARTS WITH A QUESTION FROM ARJUNA ABOUT THE
DISTINCTION BETWEEN RENUNCIATION (Sanyaasa) &
RELINQUISHMENT (Thyaaga).
TKG Namboodhiri

5. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
KAAMYAANAAM KARMANAAM NYAASAM
SAMNYAASAM KAVAYO VIDU, SARVAKARMA
PHALATHYAAGAM PRAAHUSTHYAAGAM
VICHAKSHANAAH. (18.2)
Sages know renunciation to be the rejection of
all work prompted by desire for their fruits.
Experts declare relinquishment to be the giving
up of the fruits of all work.
TKG Namboodhiri

6. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
YAJNA DAANA THAPAH KARMA NA THYAAJYAM
KAARYAME’VA THATH. (18.5)
ETHAANYAPI THU KARMAANI SANGAM THYAKTHAA
PHALAANI CHA KARTHAVYAAN. (18.6)
The works of sacrifice, gift-giving, & penance
should not be relinquished; they must necessarily
be accomplished. But even these works must be
done without attachment to them & to their fruits.
TKG Namboodhiri

7. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
NIYATHASYA THU SANYAASAH KARMANO
NOPAPADYATHE’, MOHAATHASYA
PARITHYAAGASTHAAMASAH PARIKEERTHITHAH.
(18.7)
It is unreasonable to renounce obligatory
work. Its renunciation due to delusion is
well-known to be thaamasic.
TKG Namboodhiri

8. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
DUKHAMITHYE’VA YATH KARMA KAAYAKLE’SA
BHAYAATHYAJE’TH, SA KRITHWAA RAAJASAM
THYAAGAM NAIVA THYAAGAPHALAM LABHE’TH.
(18.8)
Due to bodily fatigue, if work is given up as
troublesome, such relinquishment is Raajasic;
such relinquishment does not produce any
accruable result (liberation).
TKG Namboodhiri

9. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
KAARYAMITHYEVA YATH KARMA NIYATHAM
KRIYATHE’ ARJUNA, SANGAM THYAKTHWAA PHALAM
CHAIVA SA THYAAGAH SAATHVIKO MATHAH. (18.9)
Holding the view that obligatory work is
to be done without break, the
relinquishment of both attachment & fruit
of work is deemed saathwic.
TKG Namboodhiri

10. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
NA DWE’SHTYAKUSALAM KARMA KUSALE’
NAANUSHAJJATHE’, THYAAGEE
SATHWASAMAAVISHTO ME’DHAAVEE CHCHINNA
SAMSAYAH. (18.10)
The renouncer, well established in Sathwa,
intelligent and rid of doubts, neither hates
unmeritorious work nor clings to meritorious
work.
TKG Namboodhiri

11. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
NA HI DEHABRITHA SAKYAM THYAKTHUM
KARMAANYASE’SHATHAH, YASTHU
KARMAPHALATHYAAGI SA
THYAGEETHYABHIDHEEYATHE’. (18.11)
Embodied man cannot indeed totally
renounce work; but he who relinquishes the
fruits of work is said to be the relinquisher
TKG Namboodhiri

12. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
ANISHTAMISHTAM MISRAM CHA THRIVIDHAM
KARMANAH PHALAM, BHAVATHYATHYAAGINAAM
PRE’THYA NA THU SANYAASINAAM KWACHITH.
(18.12)
The fruit of work is three-fold- disagreeable,
agreeable & mixed. It accrues to the non-
relinquishers after their death, but never to
the renouncers.
TKG Namboodhiri

13. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
ADHISHTAANAM THATHAA KARTHAA KARANAM CHA
PRITHAGWIDHAM, VIVIDHAASCHA PRITHAK CHESHTAA
DAIVAM CHAIVAATHRA PANCHAMAM. (18.14)
The five causes promoting the accomplishment of
any work are: the ground (the body), the agent
(self), various instruments (sense organs), &
manifold movements (of 5 vital airs), together
with the supernatural (sun etc. guiding the sense
organs)as the fifth among them.
TKG Namboodhiri

14. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
SAREERAVANGMANOBHIRYATH KARMA
PRAARABHATHE’ NARAH, NYAAYAM VA
VIPAREETHAM VA PANCHAITHE’ THASYA HETHAVAH.
(18.15)
These are the five causes of whatever
work, right or wrong, that a man initiates
with his body, speech, & mind
TKG Namboodhiri

15. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
YASYA NAAHAMKRITHO BHAAVO BUDHIR YASYA NA
LIPYATHE’, HATHWAAPI SA IMAAM LLOKAAN NA HANTHI
NA NIBADHYATHE’. (18.17)
He whose attitude is unegoistic, & whose understanding is
untainted, even after slaying all living beings, neither slays
nor is bound. He knows that the five factors superimposed
on the self are the doers & he is only a witness & not the
receiver of the fruits of action.
TKG Namboodhiri

16. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
JNAANAM JNE’YAM PARIJNAATHA THRIVIDHAA
KARMACHODANA, KARANAM KARMA KARTHE’THI
THRIVIDHAHAH KARMA SANGRAHAH. (18.18)
Knowledge, the knowable & the knower is
the three-fold mandate to work. The
instrument, work, & agent constitute the
three-fold factors of work.
TKG Namboodhiri

17. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
SARVA BHUTHE’SHU YENAIKAM BHAVAMAVYYA
MEEKSHATHE’, AVIBHAKTHAM VIBHAKTHE’SHU
THAJJNAANAM VIDHI SATHVIKAM. (18.20)
Now the Lord gives the 3-fold division of
Knowledge, Work, & the Doer.
The knowledge by which one sees in all beings
a single immutable existence though these
beings themselves are divided, is Saathwic.
TKG Namboodhiri

18. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
PRITHAKTHWE’NA THU YATHJNAANAM
NAANAABHAAVAAN PRITHAGWIDHAAN, VE’THI
SARVE’SHU BHOOTHE’SHU THATHJNAANAM VIDHI
RAAJASAM. (18.21)
Know that the knowledge by which one
knows all beings as existents of various
kinds, is Raajasic.
TKG Namboodhiri

19. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
YATHTHU KRITHSNAVADE’KASMIN KAARYE’
SAKTHAMAHAITHUKAM,
ATHATHWAARTHAVADALPAM CHA
THATHTHAAMASAMUDAAHRITHAM. (18.22)
The knowledge that sticks unreasonably to an
object as if it were a whole, & whose content is
false & petty, is known as Thaamasic.
TKG Namboodhiri

20. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
NIYATHAM SANGARAHITHAM ARAAGADWE’SHATHAH
KRITHAM, APHALAPRE’PSUNA KARMA
YATHATHSAATHWIKAM UCHYATHE. (18.23)
Saathwic work is that work which is
obligatory, done without attachment,
passion or aversion, & done without any
desire for its fruits.
TKG Namboodhiri

21. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
MUKTHA SANGO ANAHAMVAADEE
DRITHUTHSAAHASAMANWITHAH,
SIDHYASIDHYORNNIRVIKAARAH KARTHA SATVIKA
UCHYATHE’. (18-26)
He who has given up attachment, is unegoistic,
rich in resolve & zeal, & remains unchanged in
success & failure, is said to be a Saathwic agent.
TKG Namboodhiri

22. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
PRAVRITHIM CHA NIVRITHIM CHA KAARYAAKAARYE’
BHAYAABHAYE’, BANDHAM MOKSHAM CHA YA VETHI
BUDHIH SA PARTHA SATHWIKEE. (18.30)
Arjuna, that intellect is Saathwic which
knows action & inaction, duty & non-duty,
fear & fearlessness, & bondage &
liberation.
TKG Namboodhiri

23. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
DRITHYAA YAYAA DHAARAYATHE’ MANAH
PRAANENDRIYAKRIYAAH, YOGE’NA
AVYABHICHAARINYA DRITHIH SA PARTHA
SAATHWIKEE. (18.33)
Arjuna, the unfaltering resolve by which one,
through concentration, maintains the functions of
mind, vital breaths & the senses, in accordance
with the scriptures, is said to be Saathwic.
TKG Namboodhiri

24. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
ABHYAASAADRAMATHE’ YATHRA DUKHAANTHAM CHA
NIGACHCHATHI, YATHADAGRE’ VISHAMIVA PARINAAME’
AMRITHOPAMAM, THATSUKHAM SATHWIKAM
PROKTHAMAATHMA BUDHI PRASAADAJAM.(18.36 &37).
That pleasure is Saathwic which in the
beginning is like poison, but at the end is like
ambrosia, & in which, through practice, one
delights, reaching the end of all pain.
TKG Namboodhiri

25. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
NA THADASTHI PRITHWIVYAAM VA DIVI DE’VE’SHU
VA PUNAH, SATHWAM PRAKRITHIJYRMUKTHAM
YADE’BHIH SYAATHRIBHIRGUNAIH. (18.40)
In this world, in heaven or again, among
gods, there is none who is free from these
three constituents of Nature, namely,
Sathwam, Rajas, & Thamas.
TKG Namboodhiri

26. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
BRAHMANA KSHATRIYA VISAAM SOODRANAM CHA
PARANTHAPA, KARMAANI PRAVIBHAKTHAANI
SWABHAAVAPRABHAVYRGGUNAIH.(18.41)
Now the Lord explains the way the duties of
the 4 types (Varnaas) of people, Brahmana,
Kshatriya, Vaisya, & Soodra, are allotted based
on their in-born constituents of nature.
TKG Namboodhiri

27. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
SAMO DAMASTHAPAH SAUCHAM KSHAANTIR
ARJAVAME’VA CHA, JNAANAM VIJNAANAM
AASTHIKYAM BRAHMAKARMA SWABHAAVAJAM.
(18.42)
Restraint of mind & senses, penance, cleanliness,
endurance, guilelessness, knowledge, realization,
& faith in the scriptures- these constitute the
natural work of Brahmins.
TKG Namboodhiri

28. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
SAURYAM THE’JO DRITHIRDDAKSHYAM YUDHE’
CHAPYAPALAAYANAM, DAANAMEESWARA
BHAAVASCHA KSHAATHRAM KARMA
SWABHAAVAJAM. (18.43)
Courage, power, resolution, skill, non-flight
from battle, generosity, & might constitute the
work of Kshatriyas derived from their nature.
TKG Namboodhiri

29. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
KRISHI GOWRAKSHA VAANIJYAM VAISYAKARMA
SWABHAAVAJAM, PARICHARYAATMAKAM KARMA
SOODRASYAPI SWABHAAVAJAM. (18.44)
Vaisyas naturally do agriculture, cattle-
rearing, & trade. Menial service is the
work of Soodras, born of their nature.
TKG Namboodhiri

30. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
SWE’ SWE’ KARMANYABHIRATHAH SAMSIDHIM LABHATHE’
NARAH; YATHAH PRAVRITHIR BHOOTHAANAAM YENA
SARVAMIDAM THATHAM, SWAKARMANAA
THAMABHYARCHYA SIDHIM VINDHATHI MAANAVAH. (18.45 &
46)
Man achieves perfection through devotion to his
allotted work. One who performs his work as
worship to Him, from whom all beings have
proceeded & by Whom all the Universe is pervaded,
wins perfection.
TKG Namboodhiri

31. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
SRE’YAAN SWADHARMO VIGUNAH PARADHARMAATH
SWANUSHTITHAATH, SAHAJAM KARMA KAUNTHE’YA
SADOSHAMAPI NATHYAJE’TH. (18.47 & 48)
One’s own law of righteousness, though defective, is
better than that of another, though well observed.
Arjuna, work determined by nature, though defective,
one should not abandon. ( Swadharma & Sahajam
Karma should be observed.)
TKG Namboodhiri

32. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
ASAKTHABUDHHIH SARVATHRA JITHAATHMAA
VIGATHASPRIHAH, NAISHKARMYASIDDHIM
PARAMAAM SANYAASE’NAADHIGACHCHATHI. (18.49)
He whose intellect is unattached to objects, whose
self is disciplined, & from whom all desires have
departed, wins the supreme perfection of
worklessness by means of renunciation.
TKG Namboodhiri

33. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
SIDHIM PRAAPTHO YATHAA BRAHMA
THATHAAPNOTHI NIBODHA ME’, SAMAASE’NAIVA
KAUNTHE’YA NISHTAA JNAANASYA YA PARAA. (18.50)
Arjuna, know from Me briefly, how one
made fit for the discipline of knowledge,
reaches Brahman-the supreme
consummation of knowledge.
TKG Namboodhiri

34. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
The next 3 verses, 18.51, 52, 53, describes the conditioning
of the Jnaana Yogi to make him eligible to attain
Brahman.
With purified intellect, restrained, rejecting sensual
objects, without attachment & aversion, in solitude,
eating lightly, mind, body & speech controlled, ever
meditating, dispassionate, renouncing ego, force, pride,
lust, wrath, & possessions, tranquil & without a sense of
ownership, one becomes fit for the status of Brahman.
TKG Namboodhiri

35. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
BRAHMABHOOTHAH PRASANNAATHMAA NA
SOCHATHI NA KAANKSHATHI, SAMAH SARVE’SHU
BHOOTHE’SHU MADBHAKTHIM LABHATHE’ PARAAM.
(18.54)
Becoming Brahman, with a tranquilized mind,
he neither grieves nor desires. Treating all
beings equally, he wins supreme devotion to
Me.
TKG Namboodhiri

36. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
BHAKTHYAA MAAMABHIJAANAATHI YAAVAAN
YASCHAASMI THATHWATHAH, THATHO MAAM
THATHWATHO NJAATHWAA VISATHE’
THADANANTHARAM. (18.55)
The one who has won supreme devotion to
Me, is able to comprehend Me completely.
Thus knowing Me in truth, he merges with Me.
TKG Namboodhiri

37. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
SARVAKARMAANYAPI SADAA KURVAANO
MADVYAPAASRAYAH, MATHPRASAADAAD
AVAAPNOTHI SAASWATHAM PADAMAVYAYAM.
(18.56)
Though performing all work continuously, in
total dependence on Me, due to My grace, one
achieves the eternal & immutable status.
TKG Namboodhiri

38. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
CHE’THASAA SARVAKARMAANI MAYI SANYASYA
MATHPARAH, BUDHIYOGAMUPAASRITHYA MACHCHITHAH
SATHATHAM BHAVA. (18.57) MACHCHITHAH
SARVADURGAANI MATHPRASAADAATHARISHYASI. (18.58)
Mentally surrendering all work to Me, setting
Me above all, & resorting to concentrated
understanding, fix your mind unceasingly on
Me. With your mind fixed on Me, you will
overcome all obstacles due to My grace.
TKG Namboodhiri

39. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
ISWARAH SARVABHOOTHAANAAM HRIDESHE’
ARJUNA THISHTATHI, BHRAAMAYAAN SARVA
BHOOTHAANI YANTHRAAROODHAANI MAAYAYAA.
(18.61)
God is in the heart of all beings, causing them
all to revolve through Maaya (illusion), as
though they are mounted on a machine.
TKG Namboodhiri

40. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
THAME’VA SARANAM GACHCHA SARVA BHAAVE’NA
BHAARATHA, THATH PRASAADAATH PARAAM
SAANTHIM STHAANAM PRAAPSYASI SAASWATHAM.
(18.62)
Arjuna, seek refuge in Him alone with all your
heart & all your soul. Due to His grace you will
win supreme peace & the eternal status.
TKG Namboodhiri

41. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
MANMANAA BHAVA MADBHAKTHO MADYAAJEE
MAAM NAMASKURU, MAAME’ VAISHYASI SATHYAM
THE’ PRATHIJAANE’ PRIYO ASI ME’. (18.65).
Set your mind on Me, be My devotee, sacrifice
unto Me, prostrate before Me, you will surely
attain Me. Truly do I promise thus, for you are
dear to Me.
TKG Namboodhiri

42. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
SARVA DHARMAAN PARITHYAJYA MAAME’KAM
SARANAM VRUJA, AHAM THWA SARVAPAAPE’BHYO
MOKSHAYISHYAMI MA SUCHAH. (18.66).
Sri Krishna concludes his advise to Arjuna with this
verse which forms the quintessence of all Upanishads:
Giving up all Dharma (acts of righteousness), thus
freed from all work, seek refuge in Me ( Universal Self
or God) alone; I shall liberate you from all sins; do not
grieve.
TKG Namboodhiri