18.3 The learned disagree Krishna speaks

त्याज्यं दोषवदित्येके कर्म प्राहुर्मनीषिणः
यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यमिति चापरे

tyājyaṁ doṣha-vad ity eke karma prāhur manīṣhiṇaḥ
yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-karma na tyājyam iti chāpare

Some learned people say action should be given up as a fault; others, that offering, giving and austerity should not be given up.

Explanation

And then an admission: the learned disagree.

Some say action should be given up as a fault; others say offering, giving and austerity should not be.

The Gita records the dispute rather than pretending to a consensus. Which makes what follows a position taken in an argument, not a report of settled fact.

Word by word

tyājyam: should be given up
doṣha-vat: as evil
iti: thus
eke: some
karma: actions
prāhuḥ: declare
manīṣhiṇaḥ: the learned
yajña: sacrifice
dāna: charity
tapaḥ: penance
karma: acts
na: never
tyājyam: should be abandoned
iti: thus
cha: and
apare: others