Chapter XVIII · Śloka 8
दुःखमित्येव यत्कर्म कायक्लेशभयात्त्यजेत् ।
स कृत्वा राजसं त्यागं नैव त्यागफलं लभेत् ॥
स कृत्वा राजसं त्यागं नैव त्यागफलं लभेत् ॥
duḥkham ity eva yat karma kāya-kleśa-bhayāt tyajet |
sa kṛtvā rājasaṃ tyāgaṃ naiva tyāga-phalaṃ labhet ||
sa kṛtvā rājasaṃ tyāgaṃ naiva tyāga-phalaṃ labhet ||
One who abandons action because it is painful or out of fear of physical suffering — performing rājasika renunciation — does not obtain the fruit of renunciation.
Rājasika tyāga is driven by aversion and self-concern rather than wisdom. Stopping action merely to avoid discomfort is not genuine renunciation and produces no liberating result.