Bhagavad Gita 18.5
Moksha Sanyasa Yoga · English Translation
Sanskrit
यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत् | यज्ञो दानं तपश्चैव पावनानि मनीषिणाम् ||१८-५||
Transliteration
yajñadānatapaḥkarma na tyājyaṃ kāryameva tat . yajño dānaṃ tapaścaiva pāvanāni manīṣiṇām ||18-5||
Acts of sacrifice, gift and austerity should not be abandoned, but should be performed; sacrifice, gift and also austerity are the purifiers of the wise.
Word by Word
यज्ञदानतपःकर्म acts of sacrifice, gift and austerity, न not, त्याज्यम् should be abandoned, कार्यम् should be performed, एव indeed, तत् that, यज्ञः sacrifice, दानम् gift, तपः austerity, च and, एव indeed, पावनानि purifiers, मनीषिणाम् of the wise
Classical Commentary
Acts of sacrifice, gift and austerity purify the hearts of those who have no desire for rewards. These actions are considered obligatory and ought to be performed. Actions that are skilfully performed lose their power to bind the soul and free it from earthly bondage. Now? O Arjuna? I will explain to thee that skilful way by which actions can destroye their own effect.