Krishna Consciousness – Retirement from Active Life Or Active Life for Krishna

This article is based on a lecture given by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada from the “Bhagavad Gita As It Is” Chapter 3.1-5 recorded on Dec 20, 1968 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Mere Renunciation alone cannot give Perfection – Bhagavad Gita – Chapter 3.4 

In the 4th verse, Lord Krishna clarifies that simply by abstaining from work one cannot achieve freedom from reaction, nor by renunciation alone can one attain perfection. The renounced order of life can be adopted upon being purified by the discharge of prescribed duties. The prescribed form of duties is laid down just to purify the heart of materialistic men. Without the purifying process one cannot attain success by abruptly adopting the fourth order of life, sannyäsa. Sannyasis are meant for spreading God consciousness or Krishna consciousness. 

There are many people who prematurely take up sannyasa order. They forget their real purpose and do charitable activities like opening schools and hospitals which is the duty of the administrators.  There are many so-called sannyasis who cannot even give up smoking what to speak of renouncing all material activities. Hence without purification of heart, sannyäsa is simply a disturbance to the social order. On the other hand, if somebody takes to the transcendental service of the Lord, even without discharging his prescribed duties, whatever he may be able to advance in the cause is accepted by the Lord. In Srimad Bhagavatam it is mentioned, “Svalpam apy asya dharmasya träyate mahato bhayät." This means that even the slight performance of such a principle (devotional service) enables one to overcome the greatest difficulty."

The word Sannyasa is a combination of 2 words – Sat and Nyasa. Sat means the Supreme, the ever-existing, and nyäsa means renunciation. Therefore one who has renounced everything for serving the Supreme, he is a real sannyäsi. It does not depend on the dress one wears. Anyone who has sacrificed his life for service of the Supreme Lord, he's a sannyasi. That is explained by Lord Krishna in the Fifth Chapter of Bhagavad Gita.