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Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 18.5
यज्ञदानतप:कर्म न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत् ।
यज्ञो दानं तपश्चैव पावनानि मनीषिणाम् ॥ ५ ॥
yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-karma
na tyājyaṁ kāryam eva tat
yajño dānaṁ tapaś caiva
pāvanāni manīṣiṇām
Acts of sacrifice, charity and penance are not to be given up; they must be performed. Indeed, sacrifice, charity and penance purify even the great souls.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
Sacrifice, charity and penance must not be given up; they purify even great souls.
Prabhupāda explains that prescribed sacrifices help people reach the Supreme Lord, and charity purifies the heart.
Give charity to suitable persons to help advance in spiritual life.
Krishna’s opinion is presented — “Religious duties as opposed to worldly duties purify the heart”
Sacrifice, Charity and Penance should never be given up – they purify even the great souls
Suggestion to yogis / advanced souls / sannyasis — They must perform acts for advancement of human society
Example of such purificatory processes — Marriage ceremony (Vivaha-yajna)
Purpose: To regulate the human mind so that it becomes peaceful for spiritual advancement
Attitude of sannyasi: Should never discourage one in the lower stages of life e.g. a young man to practice this yajna
Another example is charity — It is for purification of heart ,especially if it is given to suitable persons, it leads to advanced spiritual life
A true sannyasi does not renounce his activities, but is detached from their fruits
Krishna concludes that renounced order of life (sannyasa) and renunciation of the fruits of action (tyaga) are the same.
Work performed in this way is renunciation in the mode of goodness
Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.
The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.
Key ideas: karma, sva-dharma.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What does BG 18.5 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to duty & action?
Do one task today purely because it is right.
Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.
Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.
Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.