Chapter 18, Verse 3
त्याज्यं दोषवदित्येके कर्म प्राहुर्मनीषिण: | यज्ञदानतप:कर्म न त्याज्यमिति चापरे ॥3॥
tyājyaṁ doṣavad-ityeke karma prāhur manīṣiṇaḥ | yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-karma na tyājyam iti cāpare
"Some learned persons say that action, beset with evil (as it is), should be given up, and others say that the practice of sacrifice, charity and austerity should not be given up."
Key Insight:
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 18.3 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 18.3 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
Detailed Meaning
This verse presents a dialectical tension in Vedic thought regarding the nature of action (karma). The first group (often associated with Sānkhya or ascetic traditions) argues that because every action contains some inherent defect (doṣa)—like the indirect violence of breathing or lighting a fire—one should abandon all worldly activities to avoid karmic entanglement. The second group (the Mīmānsakas) argues that essential spiritual duties such as Yajña (sacrifice), Dāna (charity), and Tapaḥ (penance) are purifying and must never be abandoned, even if they appear to have minor flaws, because specific scriptural injunctions for these duties outweigh general prohibitions against harm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core message of Gita 18.3?
Some learned persons say that action, beset with evil (as it is), should be given up, and others say that the practice of sacrifice, charity and austerity should not be given up.