Bhagavad Gita 18.1 · Arjuna
Quitting or letting go?
संन्यासस्य महाबाहो तत्त्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम्।
त्यागस्य च हृषीकेश पृथक्केशिनिषूदन॥
saṃnyāsasya mahābāho tattvamicchāmi veditumtyāgasya ca hṛṣīkeśa pṛthakkeśiniṣūdana
Mighty-armed one, I want to know the truth of renunciation, and of letting go, each one separately, Hrishikesha.
Words
- tyāga
What it means
The final chapter opens with Arjuna's last big question. What's the real difference between sannyasa, renunciation, giving up activity, and tyaga, letting go of what we cling to? They sound alike. Arjuna senses they're not, and wants it clear before he acts.
The story
Arjuna began the Gita wanting to walk away from the battle. Now, eighteen chapters later, he asks what true renunciation really is. The question shows how far he's come.
In your life
Think of someone torn between quitting a stressful job and learning to stop taking it home every night. Two kinds of letting go. Ask yourself which one you really need.
Quitting and letting go are different.