Chapter 18 Shloka 8
दुःखमित्येव यत्कर्म कायक्लेशभयात्त्यजेत्।
स कृत्वा राजसं त्यागं नैव त्यागफलं लभेत्।।८।।
Now the Lord describes rajsic tyaag.
He who abandons action because it constitutes sorrow, or due to fear of physical discomfort, participates in rajsic tyaag. He does not attain the fruit of such renunciation.
That renunciation, which is effected due to fear of sorrow, is rajsic tyaag. There, obligatory deeds are abandoned:
a) because they lead to sorrow;
b) due to fear of loss;
c) with the fear that one’s joy is at stake;
d) due to fear of physical distress;
e) because one’s time will be wasted;
f) because one’s wealth will be wasted;
g) out of fear of losing one’s prestige;
h) because they may be a hindrance in the path of procuring what one likes;
i) because they may cause obstruction in one’s selfish purpose;
j) due to fear of loss of peace of mind;
k) due to the fear that one’s desires may not be thus fulfilled.
Renunciation of any action, situation, individual, duty or object after such reflection, constitutes rajsic tyaag or rajsic relinquishment. The spiritual aspirant does not indulge in such relinquishment.
Understand this carefully! The spiritual aspirant can never renounce thus because:
1. He seeks to learn equanimity both in engaging in action and abstinence from action.
2. He seeks to attain equanimity in the face of acclaim or insult.
3. He is endeavouring to transcend the body-self.
4. He has to learn to be impartial towards both victory and defeat.
5. His aim is not to escape sorrow, but to become indifferent to sorrow.
Why should such a one flee from adversity?
a) He is practising the art of loving all.
b) He is practising mercy and forgiveness.
c) He is learning patience, endurance and magnanimity.
d) He merely seeks to redeem others from their sorrows.
e) He is the lover of his devotees.
f) He is practising establishment in the state of the sthit pragya – abidance in the pure intellect.
g) He is in the process of accumulating divine qualities.
Therefore the Lord says of the rajsic renunciate, “Such a one does not attain the fruit of tyaag.” The fruit of tyaag is sanyas. The fruit of tyaag is tapas. How can the one who renounces because of any of the reasons given above, attain the Lord? How can he even attain sanyas? Such a one cannot even attain the world.
Man indulges in rajsic tyaag to ensure his happiness – and in the process, loses that very happiness.
