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Chapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation · 78 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Nature & guṇasChapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 18.30

Knowledge, action, determination and happiness in the modes

Prakṛti · Material nature

प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च कार्याकार्ये भयाभये ।

बन्धं मोक्षं च या वेत्ति बुद्धि: सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी ॥ ३० ॥

pravṛttiṁ ca nivṛttiṁ ca

kāryākārye bhayābhaye

bandhaṁ mokṣaṁ ca yā vetti

buddhiḥ sā pārtha sāttvikī

Translation

O son of Pṛthā, that understanding by which one knows what ought to be done and what ought not to be done, what is to be feared and what is not to be feared, what is binding and what is liberating, is in the mode of goodness.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Understanding in Goodness

  1. 1

    Understanding in goodness knows what to do and avoid, what to fear and not fear, and what binds and liberates.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that actions guided by scripture should be done; actions not guided by scripture should not be done.

  3. 3

    Use scriptural directions to decide how to act and avoid becoming entangled in work and its reactions.

Key points from the purport

Understanding in goodness

One knows what ought to be done and what ought not to be done

What is to be feared and what is not to be feared

What is binding and what is liberating

Performing actions in terms of scriptural directions is called “pravrtti”

Not doing such actions leads to entanglement

Further reading

The Modes Control All Activities

One’s work according to the five factors mentioned above is dictated by the three modes of material nature

This includes:

One’s knowledge (19-22) o One’s action (23-26)

One’s performance of action (27-28) o One’s understandings (29-32)

One’s determination(33-35) o One’s happiness (36-39)

All activities within the universe are thus controlled by the three modes SAKAMA TO NISKAMA KARMA YOGA

Chapter 18, section III: The Modes Control All Activities
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pravṛttimdoing
  2. caalso
  3. nivṛttimnot doing
  4. caand
  5. kāryawhat ought to be done
  6. akāryeand what ought not to be done
  7. bhayafear
  8. abhayeand fearlessness
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: prakṛti, guṇa.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 18.30 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to nature & guṇas?

Practice

Observe which mode shaped your last decision.

5

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 18 ›
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Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

Live this todayWorship Kṛṣṇa Through Your WorkA practice from BG 18.46, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.