Verse 5.6

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 5.6:

सन्न्यासस् तु महा-बाहो दुःखम् आप्तुम् अयोगतः ।
योग-युक्तो मुनिर् ब्रह्म न चिरेणाधिगच्छति ॥ ६ ॥

sannyāsas tu mahā-bāho duḥkham āptum ayogataḥ |
yoga-yukto munir brahma na cireṇādhigacchati || 6 ||

sannyāsaḥ–renunciation; tu–however; mahā-bāho–O mighty-armed one; duḥkham–distress; āptum–brings; ayogataḥ–without selflessly offering the results of one’s action to the Supreme Lord; yoga-yuktaḥ–one who is engaged in selflessly offering the results of one’s action to the Supreme Lord; muniḥ–a sage; brahma–the stage of transcendence; na cireṇa–without delay; adhigacchati–he attains.

O mighty-armed one, renouncing one’s prescribed duty without selflessly offering the fruit of that duty to the Supreme brings distress, but one who worships the Lord by niṣkāma-karma-yoga, selflessly offering Him the fruits of one’s action, becomes a jñānī and very quickly attains the stage of transcendence.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

The jñānī’s acceptance of karma-sannyāsa–the renunciation of his prescribed duty–before his heart is completely purified leads to misery. Selflessly offering the results of one’s activities to the Supreme Lord, however, brings happiness. In other words, it helps attain transcendence (brahma). This feature was indicated earlier and is further clarified in this verse beginning with sannyāsas tu. When the heart is disturbed by worldly desires, renunciation becomes miserable. Only selflessly offering the fruits of one’s endeavours to the Lord brings peace to the disturbed heart. The word ayogataḥ means ‘in the absence of niṣkāma-karma-yoga’. Thus the renunciation of one who is not qualified to take sannyāsa becomes a cause of misery.

The author of Vārttika-sūtra says:

pramādino bahiścittaḥ piśunāḥ kalahotsukāḥ
sannyāsino pi dṛśyante daiva-sandūśitāṣayāḥ

It is seen that even sannyāsīs have agitated minds, are unsteady, troublesome to others and eager to quarrel if, due to their long association with the illusory energy, their hearts are impure.

It is also said in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.18.40), “Tridaṇḍī-sannyāsīs who are bereft of proper knowledge (jñāna) and renunciation (vairāgya) and who have not controlled their five senses and the mind, lose both worlds.” Therefore when a niṣkāma-karma-yogī (one who links with the Supreme through the selfless discharge of prescribed action) becomes a jñāna-yogī (one who links with transcendence through transcendental knowledge), he quickly achieves transcendence (brahma).

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

It is better to engage in the selfless offering of the results of one’s endeavours to Bhagavān than to take sannyāsa before the heart is pure.