โศลก 18.1118.118.218.318.418.518.618.718.818.918.1018.1118.1218.1318.1418.1518.1618.1718.1818.1918.2018.2118.2218.2318.2418.2518.2618.2718.2818.2918.3018.3118.3218.3318.3418.3518.3618.3718.3818.3918.4018.4118.4218.4318.4418.4518.4618.4718.4818.4918.5018.5118.5218.5318.5418.5518.5618.5718.5818.5918.6018.6118.6218.6318.6418.6518.6618.6718.6818.6918.7018.7118.7218.7318.7418.7518.7618.7718.78

Verily, it is not possible for an embodied being to abandon actions entirely; but he who relinishes the rewards of actions is verily called a man of renunciation.

It is not possible for an embodied being to give up actions entirely; but one who gives up the fruit of action is called a relinquisher.

Krishna gives a practical reason for his teaching. No embodied being can give up action completely; breathing, eating and thinking are all actions. Therefore the real relinquisher is the one who gives up the fruits of action. The verse echoes earlier teaching that no one can remain without acting even for a moment. It moves the question from whether to act to how to act, which is the Gita's constant concern.