Responsibility — Lesson 16
Do not give up responsibility wrongly (Gita 18.7–9)
Verses
मोहात्तस्य परित्यागस्तामसः परिकीर्तितः ॥ १८.७ ॥
दुःखमित्येव यत्कर्म कायक्लेशभयात्त्यजेत् ।
स कृत्वा राजसं त्यागं नैव त्यागफलम् लभेत् ॥ १८.८ ॥
कार्यमित्येव यत्कर्म नियतं क्रियतेऽर्जुन ।
सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलं चैव स त्यागः सात्त्विको मतः ॥ १८.९ ॥
Transliteration
niyatasya tu sannyāsaḥ karmaṇo nopapadyate
mohāt tasya parityāgas tāmasaḥ parikīrtitaḥ
duḥkham ity eva yat karma kāya-kleśa-bhayāt tyajet
sa kṛtvā rājasaṁ tyāgaṁ naiva tyāga-phalaṁ labhet
kāryam ity eva yat karma niyataṁ kriyate arjuna
saṅgaṁ tyaktvā phalaṁ caiva sa tyāgaḥ sāttviko mataḥ
Meaning
Giving up required action is not appropriate. Abandoning it out of confusion is called tamasic (ignorant). Giving up action out of fear of difficulty is called rajasic (driven by discomfort). Performing one’s duty simply because it is right, without attachment to results, is called sattvic (clear and balanced).
Key Ideas
- tāmasic — giving up due to confusion
- rājasic — giving up due to discomfort
- sāttvic — acting with clarity and balance
- tyāga — attitude toward action
Teaching
Krishna clarifies a subtle point. Not all “giving up” is wise. Sometimes we avoid responsibility and call it detachment. But the reason matters. If we avoid action out of confusion, it leads to stagnation. If we avoid action out of discomfort, it leads to weakness. True maturity is: doing what is right, without attachment. That is clarity in action.
Connection to Responsibility
Responsibility is not about doing everything. It is about doing the right things, in the right way, for the right reason. This verse helps us check our intention behind action and avoid self-deception.
Reflection
When I avoid something, what is the real reason? Is it clarity, or is it discomfort or confusion?