|| 18.2 ||

श्री भगवानुवाच काम्यानां कर्मणां न्यासं संन्यासं कवयो विदुः। सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं प्राहुस्त्यागं विचक्षणाः।।

śrī-bhagavān uvāca kāmyānāṁ karmaṇāṁ nyāsaṁ sannyāsaṁ kavayo viduḥ sarva-karma-phala-tyāgaṁ prāhus tyāgaṁ vicakṣaṇāḥ

śrī-bhagavān uvāca (the Supreme Personality of Godhead said) kāmyānām (of desires) karmaṇām (of activities) nyāsam (renunciation) sannyāsam (the renounced order) kavayaḥ (the learned) viduḥ (know) sarva (of all) karma (of activities) phala (of the results) tyāgam (renunciation) prāhuḥ (say) tyāgam (renunciation) vicakṣaṇāḥ (the wise).

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: The giving up of activities that are based on material desire is what great learned men call the renounced order of life [sannyāsa]. And giving up the results of all activities is what the wise call renunciation [tyāga].

Kṛṣṇa defines the two terms clearly. ‘Sannyāsa’ is the giving up of specific activities that are based on selfish desires (Kāmyā-karma). ‘Tyāga’ is the broader principle of giving up the results of all activities. The distinction is between giving up the ‘act’ versus giving up the ‘ego’ behind the act. Learned men might argue about which is better, but Kṛṣṇa is leading Arjuna toward ‘Tyāga’. For a person living in the world, it is almost impossible to stop all actions. However, it is possible to stop being attached to the rewards. This is the ‘Yoga’ of work where the body acts, but the mind remains unattached. This definition saves us from a ‘fake’ renunciation where a person leaves their home but still dreams of money. Real renunciation is internal. It is the ‘Nyāsa’ or placing of our desires at the feet of the Lord. Whether we are at a desk or in a temple, if we give up the fruit, we are truly renounced.