न द्वेष्ट्यकुशलं कर्म कुशले नानुषज्जते ।
त्यागी सत्त्वसमाविष्टो मेधावी छिन्नसंशयः ॥
त्यागी सत्त्वसमाविष्टो मेधावी छिन्नसंशयः ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
जो अकुशल कर्मसे द्वेष नहीं करता और कुशल कर्ममें आसक्त नहीं होता, वह त्यागी, बुद्धिमान्, सन्देहरहित और अपने स्वरूपमें स्थित है ॥
English
One who neither rejects unwholesome action nor clings to wholesome action is a wise renunciate, free of doubt and established in clear seeing.
What this verse means
A truly wise renunciate does not hate difficult actions and does not become attached to good ones. Such a person is steady, clear, and free of doubt.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna has been told that real renunciation is not escape. Krishna now sharpens the point: a person who has seen clearly neither hates difficult work nor clings to pleasant work. That steadiness is true renunciation.
Why this verse still matters
You take the job nobody wants because it matters, but you do not build your identity around being the hero. You do what must be done without craving praise or resenting the task.
The takeaway
You stop fighting reality and stop grasping at approval. That inner release makes action cleaner.
Word-by-word translation
न द्वेष्टि (does not hate) / अकुशलं (unwholesome) / कर्म (action) / कुशले (in wholesome) / न (not) / अनुषज्जते (clings) / त्यागी (renunciate) / सत्त्वसमाविष्टः (filled with clarity) / मेधावी (wise) / छिन्नसंशयः (cut free of doubt)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18: Moksha Sanyasa Yoga — Liberation through Renunciation, which contains 78 verses.
Explore related themes: vairagya (51 verses), sattva (26 verses), tyaga (14 verses)