Bhagavad Gita 18.7 is Chapter 18, Verse 7, in Moksha Sanyasa Yoga (Liberation). Below are the Sanskrit text, a transliteration, a plain-English translation and an explanation.
niyatasya tu sannyāsaḥ karmaṇo nopapadyate mohāt tasya parityāgas tāmasaḥ parikīrtitaḥ
"Renunciation of obligatory duties is not proper. Abandoning them through delusion is declared to be tamasic."
What This Means:
It's wrong to give up your required duties. If you abandon responsibilities because of confusion or laziness, that's the lowest type of renunciation - tamasic.
Going Deeper:
Niyata karma (obligatory duties) includes daily duties (nitya) and occasional duties (naimittika). These maintain cosmic and social order. Abandoning them from 'moha' (delusion) - thinking oneself above such actions or simply being lazy - is tamasic renunciation. It masquerades as spirituality but is actually ignorance.
How To Apply This:
Don't use spiritual excuses to avoid responsibilities. 'I'm too enlightened for housework' or 'I'm detached from my job' can be tamas in disguise.
Key Sanskrit Terms: