Verse 18.3

Verse 18.3: “Action (as such), as possessing an element of evil, should be relinquished, (so) some thoughtful men declare; that the activity relating to Sacrifice, Charity, and Austerity should not be relinquished, declare some others. (135)

Commentary called Jnaneshwari by Jnaneshwar:

Some are not able to abandon their attachment for (action)–fruit and so they say that all actions are fettering even as one, going about wildly in a naked condition, calls others (who rebuke him) quarrelsome: or one affected with a disease but having no control whatever over his tongue (palate) finds fault, Oh Dhananjaya, with food: or one with white leprosy, instead of resenting his own skin, gets angry with the flies (that swarm and make a buzzing noise on the skin). In that way the weak ones greedy for fruit and unable to relinquish action-fruit condemn the very activism as being wicked and declare their decision in favour of complete relinquishment of actions themselves. Some declare that Sacrifices, etc. should necessarily be performed since there are no other means for securing purification of the mind: (they add) those keen on having speedy success in the way leading to mental purification should never be idle in regard to activism.

One wishing to purify gold must undergo the trouble of passing it through the furnace (fire); or if one wants to have the mirror cleaned (for looking into) he must use greater amount of ash for polishing it. Or should one desire to have clean clothing he must not mind as unclean, the laundry-kettle. In that way actions should not be neglected because they cause affliction. Could delicacies be ever available without cooking (and boiling) them etc.? Some people bolster up activism indulging in such types of talk. Owing to such difference of opinion, the subject of relinquishment has become controversial. In order, therefore, to strip it of all doubts and to make the subject of relinquishment quite definite, I propose discussing it in clear terms, and now attend to it.