Chapter XVIII · Śloka 3
त्याज्यं दोषवदित्येके कर्म प्राहुर्मनीषिणः ।
यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यमिति चापरे ॥
यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यमिति चापरे ॥
tyājyaṃ doṣavad ity eke karma prāhur manīṣiṇaḥ |
yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-karma na tyājyam iti cāpare ||
yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-karma na tyājyam iti cāpare ||
Some thinkers say that action should be abandoned as inherently flawed; others say that acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity should not be abandoned.
Krishna presents two opposing philosophical views on action before resolving the tension. The debate mirrors real traditions — the extreme ascetic versus the engaged ritualist — and sets up his own balanced conclusion.