18.6 But done having let go Krishna speaks
एतान्यपि तु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलानि च
कर्तव्यानीति मे पार्थ निश्िचतं मतमुत्तमम्
etāny api tu karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā phalāni cha
kartavyānīti me pārtha niśhchitaṁ matam uttamam
Even these actions should be done having let go of attachment and of their fruits. This is my settled view.
Explanation
But done having let go.
This is my settled view. Even these actions, done with attachment and fruit released.
The two halves of 18.5 and 18.6 together are the whole book: keep acting, stop collecting. Nothing in eighteen chapters modifies that.
Word by word
- etāni
- these
- api tu
- must certainly be
- karmāṇi
- activities
- saṅgam
- attachment
- tyaktvā
- giving up
- phalāni
- rewards
- cha
- and
- kartavyāni
- should be done as duty
- iti
- such
- me
- my
- pārtha
- Arjun, the son of Pritha
- niśhchitam
- definite
- matam
- opinion
- uttamam
- supreme
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