Bhagavad Gita BG 18.5
Chapter 18, Verse 5 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत् । यज्ञो दानं तपश्चैव पावनानि मनीषिणाम् ॥
yajna-dana-tapah-karma na tyajyam karyam eva tat yajno danam tapas caiva pavanani manishinam
Meaning
Acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity should not be abandoned — they must indeed be performed. Yajna, dana, and tapas are purifiers of the wise.
Understanding
Clarification of what tyaga does NOT mean: yajna-dana-tapah-karma na tyajyam (the activities of yajna, dana, and tapas should NOT be abandoned). Karyam eva tat (they must indeed be performed). Yajna-dana-tapah pavanani manishinam (these are the purifiers of the wise). The teaching: tyaga is not abandoning action, especially not the three pillars of spiritual life (yajna/worship, dana/giving, tapas/austerity). These are always to be performed. What is renounced is the fruit-attachment, not the action itself.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| त्याज्यम् | tyajyam | to be abandoned, to be renounced |
| कार्यम् | karyam | to be done, must be performed, obligatory |
| पावनानि | pavanani | purifiers, that which purifies |
| मनीषिणाम् | manishinam | of the wise, of the thoughtful ones |
| यज्ञ | yajña | sacrifice |
| दान | dāna | charity |
| तपः | tapaḥ | austerity |
| कर्म | karma | action |
| न | na tyājyam | should not be abandoned |
| कार्यम् | kāryam eva | must certainly be done |
| तत् | tat | that |
| यज्ञः | yajñaḥ | sacrifice |
| दानम् | dānam | charity |
| तपः | tapaḥ ca eva | and austerity also |
| पावनानि | pāvanāni | purifying |
| मनीषिणाम् | manīṣiṇām | for the wise |