दुःखमित्येव यत्कर्म कायक्लेशभयात्त्यजेत्।
स कृत्वा राजसं त्यागं नैव त्यागफलं लभेत्।।18.8।।
।।18.8।। जो मनुष्य? कर्म को दुख समझकर शारीरिक कष्ट के भय से त्याग देता है? वह पुरुष उस राजसिक त्याग को करके कदापि त्याग के फल को प्राप्त नहीं होता है।।
Undoubtedly prescribed Vedic activities are conducive to achieving moksa or liberation form material existence but as they also include penance and austerities they may cause discomfort, difficulty and even pain to accomplish. Sometimes fasting is required putting the physical body under duress causing fatigue which is agonising to the mind. Dreading such inconvenience one may limit themselves solely to the practice of astanga yoga with its numerous exercises, or pranayama maintaining strict breath control or sit for long hours in meditation to achieve moksa. All of these activities may have merit but if they keep one refraining from performing prescribed Vedic activities and obligatory duties then such abstention is known to be contrary to the conclusions of the Vedic scriptures and is situated in raja guna the mode of passion. The benefits that one thinks they are gaining by abstaining from prescribed Vedic activities to perform other works are factually never accrued. It is just a figment of the imagination like a mirage for without supplicating everything to the Supreme Lord Krishna through the medium of the bonfide spiritual master in disciplic succession it is not possible to receive His grace. This topic will be addressed further in verse 32.
