
18
CHAPTER
VERSE
12
अनिष्टमिष्टं मिश्रं च त्रिविधं कर्मण: फलम् |
भवत्यत्यागिनां प्रेत्य न तु सन्न्यासिनां क्वचित् || 18.12 ||
Aniṣṭamiṣṭaṁ miśraṁ cha trividhaṁ karmaṇaḥ phalam |
Bhavatyatyāgināṁ pretya na tu sannyāsināṁ kvachit ||
The results of action, either good or bad, mixed, or of three kinds, accrue after death to those who are not renouncers; but never to those who are renouncers.
Lesson:
The results of actions, whether good or bad, mixed, or of three kinds (sattva, rajas, and tamas), manifest after death for those who are not renounced from the fruits of their actions (atyaginam). However, for renunciants (sannyasinam), the results of actions do not accrue at any time. Krishna emphasizes the principle of karma and its repercussions in both this life and the afterlife. Actions performed with attachment to the results lead to the accumulation of karmic reactions, which manifest as consequences in future lives. Whether the actions yield desirable (anishtam) or undesirable (ishtam) results, or a mixture of both, individuals bound by attachment to the fruits of their actions inevitably face the consequences after death.
The term "trividham" refers to the three types of karma—sattva (goodness), rajas (passion), and tamas (ignorance). These three qualities influence human behaviour and determine the nature of karmic actions and their subsequent results. Regardless of the type of action performed, attachment to the results perpetuates the cycle of karma and rebirth.
Krishna contrasts the fate of those who are not renounced from the fruits of their actions with those who are renunciants (sannyasinam). Renunciants, who have relinquished attachment to the results of their actions and dedicated their lives to spiritual realization, are liberated from the cycle of karma and its consequences. By renouncing the ego and desires, they transcend the bondage of karma and attain liberation (moksha).
This verse underscores the importance of renunciation (tyaga) in spiritual life. Renunciation does not imply physical withdrawal from the world but rather detachment from the results of actions and egoistic identification with them. Renunciants cultivate a spirit of selflessness, surrendering the fruits of their actions to the divine and living in accordance with divine will.
In essence, this verse from the Bhagavad Gita elucidates the profound principle of karma and its relationship to renunciation. It emphasizes the necessity of detachment from the fruits of actions for spiritual evolution and liberation. By embracing renunciation and dedicating oneself to selfless service and spiritual realization, one transcends the cycle of karma and attains eternal freedom and bliss.