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Chapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation · 78 verses

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Bhakti & surrenderChapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation
18.5818.60

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 18.59

Perform duty in surrender to Krishna

यदहङ्कारमाश्रित्य न योत्स्य इति मन्यसे ।

मिथ्यैष व्यवसायस्ते प्रकृतिस्त्वां नियोक्ष्यति ॥ ५९ ॥

yad ahaṅkāram āśritya

na yotsya iti manyase

mithyaiṣa vyavasāyas te

prakṛtis tvāṁ niyokṣyati

Translation

If you do not act according to My direction and do not fight, then you will be falsely directed. By your nature, you will have to be engaged in warfare.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Follow the Supreme Lord’s Direction

  1. 1The Lord says that refusing His direction to fight would be mistaken; Arjuna’s nature would still lead him to warfare.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that false ego made Arjuna fear sinful results and forget that the Supreme Lord was directing him.
  3. 3Follow the Supreme Lord’s direction and the spiritual master’s order without hesitation, acting in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 18, The Perfection of Renunciation: perform duty in surrender to krishna.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Loving service and surrender to Kṛṣṇa.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: bhakti, śaraṇāgati.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 18.59 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to bhakti & surrender?

Practice

Offer one act today with devotion.

4

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 18 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 18.56Perform duty in surrender to KrishnaBG 18.57Perform duty in surrender to KrishnaBG 3.30Offer every action to KrishnaBG 6.47The highest yogi is devoted

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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Ask about BG 18.59 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.