Chapter 18
Moksha Sannyasa Yoga
Last updated: 14 June 2026
मोक्ष संन्यास योग
Total Shlokas: 78~18 min readSanskrit + Multi-language Meanings
Script:
Shloka 1
अर्जुन उवाच। संन्यासस्य महाबाहो तत्त्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम्। त्यागस्य च हृषीकेश पृथक्केशिनिषूदन।।18.1।।
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Arjuna asks: I wish to know the true nature of renunciation (Sannyasa) and of relinquishment (Tyaga), and the distinction between them, O Krishna.
Shloka 2
श्री भगवानुवाच। काम्यानां कर्मणां न्यासं संन्यासं कवयो विदुः। सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं प्राहुस्त्यागं विचक्षणाः।।18.2।।
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Krishna answers: The sages understand Sannyasa as the giving up of actions motivated by desire. The wise declare Tyaga as the giving up of the fruits of all actions.
Shloka 3
त्याज्यं दोषवदित्येके कर्म प्राहुर्मनीषिणः। यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यमिति चापरे।।18.3।।
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Some philosophers declare that all action should be given up as evil, while others say that acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity should never be abandoned.
Shloka 4
निश्चयं शृणु मे तत्र त्यागे भरतसत्तम। त्यागो हि पुरुषव्याघ्र त्रिविधः सम्प्रकीर्तितः।।18.4।।
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Hear Krishna's conclusion on the matter of relinquishment — it is declared to be of three kinds, corresponding to the three modes of nature.
Shloka 5
यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत्। यज्ञो दानं तपश्चैव पावनानि मनीषिणाम्।।18.5।।
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Acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity should not be abandoned; they should be performed. Sacrifice, charity, and austerity are purifiers of the wise.
Shloka 6
एतान्यपि तु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलानि च। कर्तव्यानीति मे पार्थ निश्चितं मतमुत्तमम्।।18.6।।
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But even these actions should be performed without attachment to the results. This is Krishna's definite and best judgment.
Shloka 7
नियतस्य तु संन्यासः कर्मणो नोपपद्यते। मोहात्तस्य परित्यागस्तामसः परिकीर्तितः।।18.7।।
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Renunciation of obligatory duties is not proper. To abandon them out of delusion is tamasic renunciation.
Shloka 8
दुःखमित्येव यत्कर्म कायक्लेशभयात्त्यजेत्। स कृत्वा राजसं त्यागं नैव त्यागफलं लभेत्।।18.8।।
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One who gives up action out of fear of bodily discomfort, thinking 'it is painful' — such renunciation is rajasic. One does not gain the fruit of renunciation thereby.
Shloka 9
कार्यमित्येव यत्कर्म नियतं क्रियतेऽर्जुन। सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलं चैव स त्यागः सात्त्विको मतः।।18.9।।
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When obligatory action is performed simply because it ought to be done, abandoning attachment and the desire for fruit — that renunciation is sattvic.
Shloka 10
न द्वेष्ट्यकुशलं कर्म कुशले नानुषज्जते। त्यागी सत्त्वसमाविष्टो मेधावी छिन्नसंशयः।।18.10।।
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The wise relinquisher, imbued with goodness, whose doubts are cut away, neither hates disagreeable action nor is attached to agreeable action.
Shloka 11
न हि देहभृता शक्यं त्यक्तुं कर्माण्यशेषतः। यस्तु कर्मफलत्यागी स त्यागीत्यभिधीयते।।18.11।।
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It is impossible for an embodied being to give up all actions entirely. But one who relinquishes the fruits of action is called a true relinquisher (Tyagi).
Shloka 12
अनिष्टमिष्टं मिश्रं च त्रिविधं कर्मणः फलम्। भवत्यत्यागिनां प्रेत्य न तु संन्यासिनां क्वचित्।।18.12।।
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For those who have not relinquished, the threefold fruit of action — desirable, undesirable, and mixed — accrues after death. But for those who have relinquished, there is none whatsoever.
Shloka 13
पञ्चैतानि महाबाहो कारणानि निबोध मे। साङ्ख्ये कृतान्ते प्रोक्तानि सिद्धये सर्वकर्मणाम्।।18.13।।
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Learn from Krishna the five factors declared in the Sankhya philosophy for the accomplishment of all actions.
Shloka 14
अधिष्ठानं तथा कर्ता करणं च पृथग्विधम्। विविधाश्च पृथक्चेष्टा दैवं चैवात्र पञ्चमम्।।18.14।।
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The body (seat of action), the doer, the various senses, the different functions of the vital airs, and the presiding deity — these are the five factors of action.
Shloka 15
शरीरवाङ्मनोभिर्यत्कर्म प्रारभते नरः। न्याय्यं वा विपरीतं वा पञ्चैते तस्य हेतवः।।18.15।।
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Whatever action a person performs by the body, speech, or mind — whether right or wrong — these five are its causes.
Shloka 16
तत्रैवं सति कर्तारमात्मानं केवलं तु यः। पश्यत्यकृतबुद्धित्वान्न स पश्यति दुर्मतिः।।18.16।।
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Therefore, one who sees the Self alone as the agent, due to imperfect understanding, does not truly see. Such a person's vision is distorted by ego.
Shloka 17
यस्य नाहङ्कृतो भावो बुद्धिर्यस्य न लिप्यते। हत्वापि स इमाँल्लोकान्न हन्ति न निबध्यते।।18.17।।
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One who is free from the notion of ego, whose intellect is not tainted — even though killing these people, such a person neither kills nor is bound by the action.
Shloka 18
ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं परिज्ञाता त्रिविधा कर्मचोदना। करणं कर्म कर्तेति त्रिविधः कर्मसङ्ग्रहः।।18.18।।
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Knowledge, the object of knowledge, and the knower form the threefold impulse to action. The instrument, the action, and the agent form the threefold basis of action.
Shloka 19
ज्ञानं कर्म च कर्ता च त्रिधैव गुणभेदतः। प्रोच्यते गुणसङ्ख्याने यथावच्छृणु तान्यपि।।18.19।।
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In the philosophy of the three modes, knowledge, action, and the agent are each declared to be of three kinds. Hear about them now.
Shloka 20
सर्वभूतेषु येनैकं भावमव्ययमीक्षते। अविभक्तं विभक्तेषु तज्ज्ञानं विद्धि सात्त्विकम्।।18.20।।
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That knowledge by which one sees the one imperishable reality in all beings, undivided in the divided — know that knowledge to be sattvic.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 (Moksha Sannyasa Yoga) about?
Chapter 18, Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, deals with liberation through renunciation and complete surrender to the Lord — the Gita's conclusion. It contains 78 verses and is part of the dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna at Kurukshetra.
How many verses are in Chapter 18 of the Bhagavad Gita?
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 (Moksha Sannyasa Yoga) has 78 shlokas (verses). On VedKosh each one is available with the original Sanskrit, transliteration, and meaning in Hindi and English.
What is the key teaching of Chapter 18?
The central teaching of Moksha Sannyasa Yoga is liberation through renunciation and complete surrender to the Lord — the Gita's conclusion. Read it as part of the unfolding wisdom Krishna gives Arjuna to resolve his moral crisis and act with clarity.