Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Verse 12 (18.12)

Reflective Prompt:

When you succeed in a task, how does your ego usually distribute the credit?

▪ Option 1: I assume I am the sole author of the success, ignoring other factors (Delusion).
▪ Option 2: I credit my efforts and talent but ignore the role of environment and destiny (Restless pride).
▪ Option 3: I recognize that my body, tools, efforts, and cosmic grace all played their parts (Wisdom).

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Verse 12 (18.12)

अनिष्टमिष्टं मिश्रं च त्रिविधं कर्मणः फलम् । भवत्यत्यागिनां प्रेत्य न तु संन्यासिनां क्वचित् | | १८-१२ | |

aniṣhṭamiṣhṭaṁ miśhraṁ cha trividhaṁ karmaṇaḥ phalam bhavatyatyāgināṁ pretya na tu saṁnyāsināṁ kvachit Learnings from Shlokas 1-12: Causes of Karma according to the Sankhya system.

Word-by-word guide:

Line 1:

अनिष्टम् (aniṣhṭam) — अनिष्ट(undesirable (evil))
इष्टम् (iṣhṭam) — इष्ट(desirable (good))
मिश्रम् (miśhram) — मिश्रित(mixed)
च (cha) — और(and)
त्रिविधम् (tri-vidham) — तीन प्रकार का(threefold)
कर्मणः (karmaṇah) — कर्म का(of action)
फलम् (phalam) — फल(fruit)

Line 2:

भवति (bhavati) — बन जाता है(accrues)
अत्यागिनाम् (atyāginām) — त्याग न करने वालों को(to those who do not let go)
प्रेत्य (pretya) — मरने के बाद(after death)
न (na) — नहीं(but not)
तु (tu) — परंतु(but not)
संन्यासिनाम् (saṁnyāsinām) — संन्यासियों को(to those who renounce)
क्वचित् (kvachit) — कभी(ever)

Line 3:

learnings joined in Learnings
from joined in from
slo joined in Shlokas
कः (kah) — कौन(who)

Line 4:

च (cha) — और(and)
uses joined in Causes
of joined in of
कः (kah) — कौन(who)
माम् (mam) — मुझको(Me)
according joined in according
to joined in to
te joined in the
sank joined in Sankhya
यः (yah) — जो(who)
sy joined in system
अस्ति (asti) — है(is)
em joined in system

English: For those who cannot renounce all want, the result of action hereafter is threefold - good, evil, and partly good and partly evil. But for him who has renounced, there is none.

💡 Commentary Note

Those who perform actions with desire face threefold karmic fruits after death, whereas those who act selflessly are free from karmic bondage.

### Shlokas 13-18 **Causes of Karma according to the Sankhya system.**

Learnings from Shloka 12:

Renunciation vs. Letting Go:: True renunciation (sannyasa) means giving up selfish, desire-driven actions. True letting go (tyaga) is performing your duties but completely surrendering the desire for personal rewards.
Do Not Give Up Good Actions:: Actions that uplift and purify us, like worship, charity, and discipline (tapas), should never be abandoned.
The Three Kinds of Letting Go::
Sattvik (Pure):: Obligatory work done simply because it is a duty, without attachment or craving for results.
Rajasik (Passionate):: Giving up action out of fear of physical strain or pain.
Tamasik (Ignorant):: Giving up duty out of confusion, laziness, or misunderstanding.
Complete Renunciation is Mental:: Since embodied beings cannot fully stop physical action, he who gives up the fruits of his work is the true renouncer.

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Match Sanskrit words from shloka 18.12 with their Hindi and English meanings.

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