Bhagavad Gita -Sivananda 381

The eighteenth discourse, which is the conclusion of the divine discourse of Lord Krishna, is in many ways a summary of the foregoing portions of the Gita. It covers in brief numerous important points dealt with in the previous discourses. Here you behold the ultimate result or effect of the Lord’s discourse to Arjuna. The drama of Arjuna’s utter despondency and breakdown is finally resolved in triumphant self-mastery, strength and bold resoluteness. Its central message emerges as an assurance that in and through the performance of one’s respective duties in life one can qualify for the highest liberation, if one performs actions by renouncing egoism and attachment and surrendering all desire for selfish, personal gain. By regarding the performance of your duties as worship offered to God, you obtain the Grace of the Lord and attain the eternal One.

Significantly, this discourse opens with a question by Arjuna asking what is true Sannyasa and true Tyaga (renunciation). In reply to this important and crucial query, the blessed Lord makes it clear to us that real Sannyasa or renunciation lies in renunciation of selfish actions, and even more in the renunciation of the desire or greed for the fruits of any action. Very clearly we are told that selfless and virtuous actions, and actions conducive to the welfare of others should not be abandoned. You must engage yourself in performing such action but renouncing attachment and greed. The true and proper renunciation is giving up of selfishness and attachment while performing one’s legitimate duties. This is called Sattwic Tyaga. We neither hate unpleasant action nor are we attached to pleasurable action.

As it is not possible for you to renounce all action, the renunciation of egoism, selfishness and attachment in your activity is declared as true renunciation. Karma does not accumulate and bind one who is thus established in such inner renunciation.

	Introduction	1
	Gita Mahatmya	7
1.	The Yoga of the Despondency of Arjuna	18
2.	Sankhya Yoga	5
3.	The Yoga of Action	80
4.	The Yoga of Wisdom	102
5.	The Yoga of Renunciation of Action	126
6.	The Yoga of Meditation	142
7.	The Yoga of Wisdom and Realisation	170
8.	The Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman	188
9.	The Yoga of the Kingly Science & the Kingly Secret	207
10.	The Yoga of the Divine Glories	227
11.	The Yoga of the Vision of the Cosmic Form	252
12.	The Yoga of Devotion	285
13.	The Yoga of Distinction Between The Field & the Knower of the Field	298
14.	The Yoga of the Division of the Three Gunas	319
15.	The Yoga of the Supreme Spirit	336
16.	The Yoga of the Division Between the Divine and the Demoniacal	349
17.	The Yoga of the Division of the Threefold Faith	364
18.	The Yoga of Liberation by Renunciation	381

Bhagavad Gita -Sivananda 381

Contents

Bhagavad Gita -Swami Sivananda

Chapter-18 :THE YOGA OF LIBERATION BY RENUNCIATION

Summary of Eighteenth Discourse

References and Context

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