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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Verse 3 (18.3)

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Verse 3 (18.3)

त्याज्यं दोषवदित्येके कर्म प्राहुर्मनीषिणः । यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यमिति चापरे | | १८-३ | |

tyājyaṁ doṣhavadityeke karma prāhurmanīṣhiṇaḥ yajñadānatapaḥkarma na tyājyamiti chāpare

Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
  • त्याज्यम् (tyājyam) — त्यागने योग्य(should not be given up)
  • दोषवत् (doṣha-vat) — दोषयुक्त(as an evil/defective)
  • इति (iti) — ऐसा(thus)
  • एके (eke) — कुछ(some)
  • कर्म (karma) — कर्म(action)
  • प्राहुः (prāhuḥ) — कहते हैं(say)
  • मनीषिणः (manīṣhiṇaḥ) — मनीषी(philosophers/thinkers)
Line 2:
  • यज्ञदानतपःकर्म (yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-karma) — यज्ञ, दान और तप के कर्म(acts of worship, charity, and discipline)
  • (na) — त्यागना नहीं चाहिए(should not be given up)
  • त्याज्यम् (tyājyam) — त्यागने योग्य(should not be given up)
  • इति (iti) — ऐसा(thus)
  • c joined in chāpare
  • अपरे (apare) — दूसरे(others)

English: Some philosophers say that all action is evil and should be given up. Others that acts of worship, benevolence and discipline should not be given up.

💡 Commentary Note

Sages hold differing views: some declare that all actions should be abandoned as flawed, while others assert that sacrifice, charity, and penance must be performed.

Learnings from Shloka 3:
  • Differing Philosophies:: Spiritual paths vary on whether active duty or complete withdrawal is the highest path.
  • Noble Deeds:: Acts that purify the mind and serve the world should generally be preserved.

Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz

Practice this shloka vocabulary

Match Sanskrit words from shloka 18.3 with their Hindi and English meanings.

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