Verse-12
Chapter 18 — Moksha Sanyasa Yoga
Verse 12
🕉 Original Sanskrit Shloka
aniṣṭamiṣṭaṁ miśraṁ ch trividhaṁ karmaṇaḥ phalam
bhavatyatyāgināṁ pretya na tu sannyāsināṁ kvacit
🕉 English Translation
Saakami purush chodete deh ko jab,
Toh accha bura mishrit phal payein tab.
Karma phal ka karta magar tyaga jo,
Na paye kabhi bhi kisee phal ko woh.
📜 Translation
English
Three-fold fruit of action-pleasant, unpleasant or mixed accrue even after death to those who have not relinquished the fruits of their actions, but never to those who renounce the fruits of their action.
Several persons without any reason associate some doubt, or any baseless, thoughtless, illogical thoughts emanating from their minds with every issue. The speaker of the Gita is the indweller of all beings, is the all-knowing, Lord Shri Krishna Himself. He understands well the deluded mentality of such persons and in the Gita He remains alert to give a clear answer to every such doubt. If action is performed without entertaining any desire for fruit in the mind just for the sake of duty or in divine spirit, then its reaction will never be in the form of accumulation of impressions inside. Action is the essential nature of the body; action is essential for meeting the requirements of the previous destiny or action is duty and if action is being performed in any such spirit, there is total inner renunciation of desire and expectation! In such a state there can never be any bondage or fruit of action. The outward action will be limited to outside; the essential nature of the body will be confined to the body; there will be no impact inside.
The words 'after death' are used in this verse as the chain of lives is going to be a prolonged one. Death is of the body only; the embodied being departs after dropping the body. The actions of the previous birth would have become the destiny of this birth. If in this birth too the actions are done with attachment and desire then after leaving the body the embodied being will carry good, bad or mixed impressions on departure and will receive the rewards in accordance with them. The inspirations from the Gita can become a sure shot guiding light in this regard. Associate with them to lead life a blissful manner. Take full delight out of life; do not give invitation to bondage or to the cycle of coming and going from this world to yourself, by yourself by entertaining the desire for reward.