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Chapter 18
Arjuna also expressed the curiosity, so that, having known the principle, he may translate it into practice. The term 'Sankhya used in the expression 'Esa te'bhihita sankhye'[1] has been termed 'Sannyasa', here. The Lord, regards the terms 'Sankhya and 'Sannyasa as synonyms - as in the second verse of the fifth chapter, He uses the term 'Sannyasah', in the fourth and the fifth verses the term 'Sankhya', while in the sixth verse again 'Sannyasa. Therefore here also 'Sankhya', has been termed 'Sannyasa'.
Similarly the term, 'Yoga' used in the expression 'Buddhiryoge tvimam srnu' (Gita 2/39) stands for the term Tyaga', used here. The Lord regards the terms 'Yoga' and Tyaga', as synonyms as—'Sangam tyaktva, in the forty-eighth verse of the second chapter and in the fifty-first verse of the same chapter Phalam tyaktva', in the third verse, of the third chapter 'Karmayogena yoginam, in the twentieth verse of the fourth chapter 'Tyaktva karmaphalisangam', in the fourth verse of the fifth chapter 'Yoga', in the fifth verse, Tadyogairapi gamyate,' in the eleventh verse, 'Sahgarir tyaktva', and in the twelfth verse 'Karmaphalarh tyaktva, and in the twelfth verse of the twelfth chapter 'Tyagat'. All these expression have been used for 'Katmayoga'. Therefore, Arjuna has used the term, 'Tyaga' for 'Yoga' i.e., the Discipline of Action, here.
In fact, Sannyasa, consists in renouncing one's affinity completely with matter through discrimination, while Tyaga', consists in giving up attachment for actions and their fruits. He, who does not get attached to actions and their fruits, is said to have attained to Yoga[2].
Appendix: - At the beginning of the third chapter, Arjuna in a complaining mood told Lord Krsna his confusion between Karmayoga and Jnanayoga; at the beginning of the fifth chapter he wanted to know which of the two Yogas was better and here he wants to know the true nature of the two.
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