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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 ›
Bhakti & surrenderChapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation
18.5918.61

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 18.60

Perform duty in surrender to Krishna

Karma · Action

स्वभावजेन कौन्तेय निबद्ध: स्वेन कर्मणा ।

कर्तुं नेच्छसि यन्मोहात्करिष्यस्यवशोऽपि तत् ॥ ६० ॥

svabhāva-jena kaunteya

nibaddhaḥ svena karmaṇā

kartuṁ necchasi yan mohāt

kariṣyasy avaśo ’pi tat

Translation

Under illusion you are now declining to act according to My direction. But, compelled by the work born of your own nature, you will act all the same, O son of Kuntī.

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

Act Under the Lord’s Direction

  1. 1

    Under illusion, Arjuna refuses the Lord’s direction, but his own nature will compel him to act anyway.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that those who refuse the Supreme Lord’s direction must act under the modes of nature.

  3. 3

    Willingly act under the Supreme Lord’s direction; doing so makes one glorious.

Key points from the purport

“If you do not follow My orders, you will follow orders of lower nature like puppet”

a

Result of following the Lord:

Anyone who voluntarily engages himself under the direction of the Supreme Lord becomes glorious

Anyone who refuses to act so – He gets compelled to act by the modes

Further reading

Working In Pure Devotional Service

One on the platform of devotion should work under the order of Lord, fully depending on Him and being fully conscious of Him

One will thus be free from the control of the modes of material nature

Chapter 18, section VI: Working In Pure Devotional Service
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. svabhāva-jenaborn of your own nature
  2. kaunteyaO son of Kuntī
  3. nibaddhaḥconditioned
  4. svenaby your own
  5. karmaṇāactivities
  6. kartumto do
  7. nanot
  8. icchasiyou like
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: bhakti, śaraṇāgati.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 18.60 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to bhakti & surrender?

Practice

Offer one act today with devotion.

5

The story behind it

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

All stories for chapter 18 ›
6

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 18.56Perform duty in surrender to KrishnaBG 18.57Perform duty in surrender to KrishnaBG 3.30Offer every action to KrishnaBG 6.47The highest yogi is devoted
Live this todayNot Independent of the LordA practice from BG 18.61, close to this verse

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

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 4 of 9 · 10 minChapters & storiesGo chapter by chapter, with the Mahābhārata stories that explain what is happening.Back · LearnPrabhupāda's Introduction