Bhagavad Gita BG 18.4
Chapter 18, Verse 4 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
निश्चयं शृणु मे तत्र त्यागे भरतसत्तम । त्यागो हि पुरुषव्याघ्र त्रिविधः संप्रकीर्तितः ॥
nishcayam shrnu me tatra tyage bharata-sattama tyago hi purusha-vyaghra tri-vidhah samprakirtitah
Meaning
Hear My conclusion (nishcaya) in this matter of tyaga, O best of the Bharatas (Bharata-sattama). Tyaga, O tiger among men (purusha-vyaghra), is declared to be of three kinds.
Understanding
Krishna asserts authority — nishcayam (My definitive conclusion, settled judgment). After acknowledging the philosophical diversity of v3, He now speaks with finality. Bharata-sattama (best of the Bharata lineage) and purusha-vyaghra (tiger among men) — both epithets honor Arjuna's lineage and character, signaling that what follows is the highest teaching for the highest student. Tri-vidhah samprakirtitah (declared to be of three kinds): tyaga follows the same tri-guna structure as everything else in Ch17-18. The coming analysis distinguishes tamasic tyaga (abandoning obligatory duty out of delusion), rajasic tyaga (abandoning action as painful), and sattvic tyaga (performing obligatory action while releasing attachment and fruit).
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| निश्चयम् | nishcayam | My definitive conclusion, settled judgment (nis = completely, caya = gathered/settled) |
| भरतसत्तम | bharata-sattama | O best of the Bharatas (superlative address to Arjuna) |
| पुरुषव्याघ्र | purusha-vyaghra | tiger among men, the most excellent person (vyaghra = tiger) |
| त्रिविधः | tri-vidhah | of three kinds, threefold |
| संप्रकीर्तितः | samprakirtitah | is completely declared, fully proclaimed |
| निश्चयम् | niścayam | conclusion, determination |
| शृणु | śṛṇu | hear |
| मे | me | from Me |
| तत्र | tatra | about this |
| त्यागे | tyāge | in renunciation |
| त्यागः | tyāgaḥ | renunciation |
| हि | hi | indeed |
| पुरुष-व्याघ्र | puruṣa-vyāghra | O tiger among men |
| त्रि-विधः | tri-vidhaḥ | threefold |
| सम्प्रकीर्तितः | samprakīrtitaḥ | is declared |