Bhagavad Gita 18.5
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 5 of 78
यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यं कार्यम् एव तत् । यज्ञो दानं तपश् चैव पावनानि मनीषिणाम् ॥
yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-karma na tyājyaṃ kāryam eva tat | yajño dānaṃ tapaś caiva pāvanāni manīṣiṇām ||
Yajña, dāna, and tapas must NOT be abandoned — they must be performed; they are purifiers of the wise.
Word by word (3)
- yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-karma na tyājyaṃ kāryam eva tat
- — the action (karma) of yajña, dāna, and tapas should NOT be abandoned (na tyājyam); on the contrary it MUST be performed (kāryam eva = it must certainly be done) — the strong categorical affirmation: not only 'don't abandon it' but 'it must be done'
- yajño dānaṃ tapaś caiva pāvanāni manīṣiṇām
- — yajña, dāna, and tapas are indeed (ca eva) purifiers (pāvanāni = purifying/cleansing) of the wise (manīṣiṇām = of the wise/thoughtful ones) — the reason: these three purify the practitioner's consciousness
- pāvanāni
- — purifying/cleansing things (from pāvana = purifier, from root pū = to purify); yajña-dāna-tapas are not just obligations but active consciousness-purifiers — they cleanse the practitioner of rāga-dveṣa, selfishness, and inertia
The actions of sacrifice, gift, and austerity should not be abandoned — they must indeed be performed. Sacrifice, gift, and austerity are purifying to the wise.
A modern analogy
This verse is the Gita's firm answer to those who say 'abandon everything for liberation.' Even the sannyāsin, even the mokṣa-seeker, must continue yajña-dāna-tapas — because these practices purify the mind that is seeking liberation. Abandoning them would be like stopping medication mid-treatment because you think you've already healed.
Public-domain translations (4) compare all →
Practice of worship, gift, and austerity should not be given up; it is quite necessary; worship, gift and austerity are the purifiers of the wise. [1]
The work of Yajna, gift, and austerity should not be relinquished, but it should indeed be performed; Yajna, gift, and austerity are purifying to the wise. [4]
The actions of sacrifice, gift, and penance should not be abandoned; they should be performed; sacrifice, gift, and penance are purifying to wise men. [9]
The works of sacrifice, gifts, and penance should not be abandoned. They should, indeed, be done. Sacrifice, gift, and penance, are the purifications of the wise. [13]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Learn these five causes of all action from Me, O Mighty-armed — as declared in the Sāṃkhya final teaching.
Sāttvic tyāga: niyata karma done ONLY because 'this must be done,' having abandoned attachment and fruit.
Sannyāsa = abandoning desire-motivated action; tyāga = abandoning fruits of ALL action — say the learned.
Sat means: being/reality, goodness/virtue, and praiseworthy action — three registers of the one word.
The sāttvic tyāgī: neither hates difficult action nor clings to pleasant — sattva-pervaded, wise, doubts severed.
Unable even to act for My sake? Then take refuge in Me, abandon all fruits of action — with self-restraint.
Verse 5 of 78 · back to Chapter 18