Bhagavad Gita BG 18.2
Chapter 18, Verse 2 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
काम्यानां कर्मणां न्यासं संन्यासं कवयो विदुः । सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं प्राहुस्त्यागं विचक्षणाः ॥
kamyanam karmanam nyasam sannyasam kavayo viduh sarva-karma-phala-tyagam prahus tyagam vicakshanah
Meaning
The wise understand sannyasa as the giving up of desire-motivated actions. The discerning call tyaga the relinquishment of the fruits of all actions.
Understanding
The definitional distinction: sannyasa = kamyanam karmanam nyasa (renunciation/giving up of kamya karma — actions motivated by desire for specific results). One simply doesn't perform actions motivated by personal desire. Tyaga = sarva-karma-phala-tyaga (relinquishment of the fruits of ALL actions — one continues to act but gives up all claim on the results). Krishna's resolution: the Gita's path is primarily tyaga — act fully in the world, but relinquish all fruit. This is more demanding and more complete than merely ceasing to act.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| काम्यानाम् | kamyanam | of desire-motivated (actions done for specific results) |
| कर्मणाम् | karmanam | of actions |
| न्यासम् | nyasam | giving up, laying down, renouncing |
| फलत्यागम् | phala-tyagam | relinquishment of fruit/results |
| विचक्षणाः | vicakshanah | the discerning, the wise, the clear-sighted |
| श्री भगवान् उवाच | śrī bhagavān uvāca | the blessed Lord said |
| काम्यानाम् | kāmyānām | of desired |
| कर्मणाम् | karmaṇām | actions |
| न्यासम् | nyāsam | giving up, abandonment |
| संन्यासम् | sannyāsam | renunciation |
| कवयः | kavayaḥ | the learned, the wise |
| विदुः | viduḥ | know |
| सर्व-कर्म-फल | sarva-karma-phala | of all action-results |
| त्यागम् | tyāgam | renunciation |
| प्राहुः | prāhuḥ | declare |
| विचक्षणाः | vicakṣaṇāḥ | the experienced, the wise |