18.10 - Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 18, Verse 10

Verse 18.10 of the Bhagavad Gita presents a profound understanding of true renunciation by describing the qualities of a person established in sattva guna (mode of goodness). This verse explains that a wise renouncer neither hates inauspicious work nor becomes attached to auspicious work. Such a person remains free from doubts because their intelligence is grounded in clarity and wisdom.

The verse describes someone who has transcended the typical human tendency to be driven by likes and dislikes. Most of us naturally gravitate toward pleasant tasks and avoid unpleasant ones, but Krishna reveals that a person of true renunciation maintains equilibrium regardless of whether a duty seems agreeable or disagreeable. This balanced approach to action comes from being "pervaded by sattva" - meaning their consciousness is infused with qualities of clarity, purity, and wisdom.

This teaching builds upon Krishna's earlier explanations of the three types of renunciation according to the gunas (modes of material nature). Here, He specifically highlights the sattvic form as superior because it involves performing one's duties without emotional entanglement. The Sanskrit term "medhāvī" (intelligent or wise) is significant in this verse, indicating that this approach to action stems from a clear understanding rather than mere discipline or habit.

What makes this teaching particularly relevant is that it addresses the common misconception that renunciation means physically withdrawing from activities. Krishna clarifies that as long as we have a physical body, some form of action is inevitable. Therefore, true renunciation lies not in the abandonment of action itself but in the abandonment of attachment to the results of action.

The verse reveals a spiritual paradox: by neither rejecting what seems difficult nor clinging to what seems pleasant, a person actually attains greater inner freedom. When we're not driven by emotional reactions to tasks—finding them either too unpleasant to bear or too pleasurable to let go—we develop a steadiness of mind that allows us to act with greater clarity and effectiveness. This steadiness dissolves doubts because decisions are no longer clouded by personal preferences.

This teaching offers a practical approach to living in the world while remaining spiritually centered. Rather than judging duties based on whether they feel comfortable or uncomfortable, the wise person evaluates them based on their alignment with dharma (righteous duty) and performs them with equanimity. This doesn't mean becoming robotic or emotionless—rather, it means developing a higher awareness that isn't swayed by the temporary nature of comfort and discomfort.

The essence of this verse ultimately points to freedom through balanced action. By neither avoiding difficult work nor becoming attached to pleasant work, one cultivates an inner stability that transcends the fluctuations of external circumstances. This state of being "free from doubts" is not merely intellectual certainty but a profound inner knowing that comes from direct experience of acting with pure motivation. The sattvic renouncer understands that all appropriate action, whether initially pleasant or unpleasant, eventually leads to purification of consciousness when performed with the right attitude.