Liberation and Renunciation - 18 - 01

The Shloka

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अर्जुन उवाच।

संन्यासस्य महाबाहो तत्त्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम् ।

त्यागस्य च हृषीकेश पृथक्केशिनिषूदन ॥

———

Arjuna uvāca.

Sannyāsasya mahābāho tattvam icchāmi veditum.

Tyāgasya ca Hṛṣīkeśa pṛthak Keśiniṣūdana.

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Meaning / Summary

This shloka marks the beginning of the eighteenth and final chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, summarizing and concluding its teachings. It highlights Arjuna’s earnest desire to resolve a fundamental confusion that has persisted throughout the earlier chapters: the precise difference between ‘sannyasa’ (renunciation) and ‘tyaga’ (relinquishment). Understanding this distinction is crucial for practical application of spiritual knowledge in daily life, especially for someone like Arjuna who is a householder and a warrior, not a monk. The chapter that follows will provide a profound and practical synthesis of karma-yoga, jnana-yoga, and bhakti-yoga, centered on these two concepts.

Arjuna said: O mighty-armed, I desire to know the truth of renunciation, and of relinquishment, O Hrishikesha, O slayer of Kesi, separately.

Arjuna initiates the final discourse by asking Krishna to clarify the exact meanings and differences between ‘sannyasa’ (renunciation of action/world) and ‘tyaga’ (relinquishment of the fruits of action). He addresses Krishna with epithets that acknowledge His power and mastery, seeking precise knowledge on these crucial spiritual concepts.

Sentence - 1

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अर्जुन उवाच।

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Meaning

Arjuna said:

Meaning of Words

अर्जुन	Arjuna
Arjuna, meaning ‘bright’ or ‘shining’, is one of the five Pandava brothers, the central heroes of the Mahabharata epic. He is renowned as a peerless archer and warrior, considered the greatest archer of his time. He is also a close friend and devotee of Lord Krishna, who acts as his charioteer and spiritual guide during the Kurukshetra War. The Bhagavad Gita is a dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna.
उवाच	uvāca	said

Sentence - 2

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संन्यासस्य महाबाहो तत्त्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम् ।

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Meaning

O mighty-armed one, I desire to know the truth of renunciation,

Meaning of Words

संन्यासस्य	sannyāsasya
of renunciation Sannyasa refers to the complete abandonment of actions motivated by personal desires, and often implies the renunciation of worldly life, family, and possessions to pursue spiritual liberation. In the context of the Bhagavad Gita, it often signifies giving up attachment to the fruits of one’s labor, rather than the actions themselves.
महाबाहो	mahābāho
Mahābāho is a vocative term meaning ‘O mighty-armed one’. It is an epithet often used for powerful warriors or individuals possessing great strength, like Arjuna. ‘Mahā’ means great, and ‘bāhu’ means arm. This address acknowledges Arjuna’s physical prowess and valor, even as he seeks spiritual clarity.
तत्त्वम्	tattvam
the truth, the principle Tattva refers to the essential nature, the truth, the reality, or the fundamental principle of something. Arjuna seeks to understand the true essence and meaning behind these concepts.
इच्छामि	icchāmi	I desire, I wish
वेदितुम्	veditum	to know, to understand

Sentence - 3

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त्यागस्य च हृषीकेश पृथक्केशिनिषूदन ॥

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Meaning

and of relinquishment, O Hrishikesha, O slayer of Kesi, separately.

Meaning of Words

त्यागस्य	tyāgasya
of relinquishment, of abandonment Tyaga refers to the act of giving up, abandoning, or relinquishing. In the Bhagavad Gita, it is often discussed in the context of abandoning the fruits or results of action, or giving up certain types of actions, rather than all actions. Arjuna seeks to understand how it differs from sannyasa.
च	ca	and
हृषीकेश	Hṛṣīkeśa
O Hrishikesha Hrishikesha is an epithet for Lord Krishna, meaning ‘Lord of the senses’ or ‘Master of the senses’. ‘Hṛṣīka’ refers to the senses, and ‘īśa’ means master or lord. This name is significant as Arjuna is struggling with his own senses and emotions on the battlefield, and he addresses Krishna, who can guide him in mastering them and understanding the true nature of action and renunciation.
पृथक्	pṛthak
Pṛthak means separately, distinctly, or individually. Arjuna wishes to understand the precise distinctions and differences between the concepts of ‘sannyasa’ (renunciation) and ‘tyaga’ (relinquishment) in a clear and differentiated manner.
केशिनिषूदन	Keśiniṣūdana
O slayer of Kesi Keśiniṣūdana is another epithet for Lord Krishna, meaning ‘O slayer of the Kesi demon’. Kesi was a powerful demon in the form of a horse, sent by the evil King Kamsa to kill Krishna when Krishna was a child. Krishna effortlessly defeated and killed this formidable demon. This name emphasizes Krishna’s supreme power, his ability to overcome any obstacle, and his role as a protector of dharma, reminding Arjuna of Krishna’s divine might as he seeks answers to profound philosophical questions.

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