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Chapter 18: Conclusion-The Perfection of Renunciation

Bg 18.7
TEXT 7
niyatasya tu sannyasah
karmano nopapadyate
mohat tasya parityagas
tamasah parikirtitah
SYNONYMS
niyatasya—prescribed duties; tu—but; sannyasah—renunciation; karmanah—activities; na—never; upapadyate—is deserved; mohat—by illusion; tasya—of which; parityagah—renunciation; tamasah—in the mode of ignorance; parikirtitah—declared.
TRANSLATION
Prescribed duties should never be renounced. If, by illusion, one gives up his prescribed duties, such renunciation is said to be in the mode of ignorance.
PURPORT
Work for material satisfaction must be given up, but activities which promote one to spiritual activity, like cooking for the Supreme Lord and offering the food to the Lord and then accepting the food, are recommended. It is said that a person in the renounced order of life should not cook for himself. Cooking for oneself is prohibited, but cooking for the Supreme Lord is not prohibited. Similarly, a sannyasi may perform a marriage ceremony to help his disciple in the advancement of Krsna consciousness. If one renounces such activities, it is to be understood that he is acting in the mode of darkness.

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Copyright (c) 1972 by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada