Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 18, Verse 5

यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत्।यज्ञो दानं तपश्चैव पावनानि मनीषिणाम्।।18.5।।

yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-karma na tyājyaṁ kāryam eva tat yajño dānaṁ tapaśh chaiva pāvanāni manīṣhiṇām

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Word Meanings

yajña—sacrifice

dāna—charity

tapaḥ—penance

karma—actions

na—never

tyājyam—should be abandoned

kāryam eva—must certainly be performed

tat—that

yajñaḥ—sacrifice

dānam—charity

tapaḥ—penance

cha—and

eva—indeed

pāvanāni—purifying

manīṣhiṇām—for the wise

•••

Translation

Acts of sacrifice, gift, and austerity should not be abandoned, but should be performed; for sacrifice, gift, and austerity are the purifiers of the wise.

•••

Commentary

18.5 यज्ञदानतपःकर्म acts of sacrifice? gift and austerity? न not? त्याज्यम् should be abandoned? कार्यम् should be performed? एव indeed? तत् that? यज्ञः sacrifice? दानम् gift? तपः austerity? च and? एव indeed? पावनानि purifiers? मनीषिणाम् of the wise.Commentary Acts of sacrifice? gift and austerity purify the hearts of those who have no desire for rewards. These actions are considered obligatory and

ought to be performed. Actions that are skilfully performed lose their power to bind the soul and free it from earthly bondage.Now? O Arjuna? I will explain to thee that skilful way by which actions can destroye their own effect.

5 of 78 verses