:: Chapter 18 :: Conclusion--The Perfection of Renunciation

Text 3

tyajyam dosa-vad ity eke
karma prahur manisinah
yajna-dana-tapah-karma
na tyajyam iti capare

Synonyms

tyajyam--must be given up; dosa-vat--as an evil; iti--thus; eke--one group; karma--work; prahuh--they say; manisinah--great thinkers; yajna--of sacrifice; dana--charity; tapah--and penance; karma--works; na--never; tyajyam--are to be given up; iti--thus; ca--and; apare--others.

Translation

Some learned men declare that all kinds of fruitive activities should be given up as faulty, yet other sages maintain that acts of sacrifice, charity and penance should never be abandoned.

Purport

There are many activities in the Vedic literature which are subjects of contention. For instance, it is said that an animal can be killed in a sacrifice, yet some maintain that animal killing is completely abominable. Although animal killing in a sacrifice is recommended in the Vedic literature, the animal is not considered to be killed. The sacrifice is to give a new life to the animal. Sometimes the animal is given a new animal life after being killed in the sacrifice, and sometimes the animal is promoted immediately to the human form of life. But there are different opinions among the sages. Some say that animal killing should always be avoided, and others say that for a specific sacrifice it is good. All these different opinions on sacrificial activity are now being clarified by the Lord Himself.

Text 4

niscayam srnu me tatra
tyage bharata-sattama
tyago hi purusa-vyaghra
tri-vidhah samprakirtitah

Synonyms

niscayam--certainty; srnu--hear; me--from Me; tatra--therein; tyage--in the matter of renunciation; bharata-sat-tama--O best of the Bharatas; tyagah--renunciation; hi--certainly; purusa-vyaghra--O tiger among human beings; tri-vidhah--of three kinds; samprakirtitah--is declared.

Translation

O best of the Bharatas, now hear my judgment about renunciation. O tiger among men, renunciation is declared in the scriptures to be of three kinds.

Purport

Although there are differences of opinion about renunciation, here the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krisna, gives His judgment, which should be taken as final. After all, the Vedas are different laws given by the Lord. Here the Lord is personally present, and His word should be taken as final. The Lord says that the process of renunciation should be considered in terms of the modes of material nature in which they are performed.

Text 5

yajna-dana-tapah-karma
na tyajyam karyam eva tat
yajno danam tapas caiva
pavanani manisinam

Synonyms

yajna--of sacrifice; dana--charity; tapah--and penance; karma--activity; na--never; tyajyam--to be given up; karyam--must be done; eva--certainly; tat--that; yajnah--sacrifice; danam--charity; tapah--penance; ca--also; eva--certainly; pavanani--purifying; manisinam--even for the great souls.

Translation

Acts of sacrifice, charity and penance are not to be given up; they must be performed. Indeed, sacrifice, charity and penance purify even the great souls.

Purport

The yogis should perform acts for the advancement of human society. There are many pacificators processes for advancing a human being to spiritual life. The marriage ceremony, for example, is considered to be one of these sacrifices. It is called vivaha-yajna. Should a sannyasi, who is in the renounced order of life and who has given up his family relations, encourage the marriage ceremony? The Lord says here that any sacrifice which is meant for human welfare should never be given up. Vivaha-yajna, the marriage ceremony, is meant to regulate the human mind so that it may become peaceful for spiritual advancement. For most men, this vivaha-yajna should be encouraged even by persons in the renounced order of life. Sannyasis should never associate with women, but that does not mean that one who is in the lower stages of life, a young man, should not accept a wife in the marriage ceremony. All prescribed sacrifices are meant for achieving the Supreme Lord. Therefore, in the lower stages, they should not be given up. Similarly, charity is for the purification of the heart. If charity is given to suitable persons, as described previously, it leads one to advanced spiritual life.