The final chapter serves as not only a conclusion and final declaration from Krishna but also as a review. He takes a moment to summarize and make a final statement about renunciation and abandonment. When one gives up acting in ways that are motivated by personal desires this is abandonment. However, renunciation is surrendering all expectations of receiving something in return for these actions. We must remember that this does not mean that all actions are to be given up. Important actions that serve greater opening and deeper experiences should never be relinquished. On this He gives examples of donation (daana), self-discipline and sacrifice, which we should always engage in. These types of actions inform, uplift and serve a greater good. Krishna declares that all acts should be performed as an offering to the divine and with out the presumption of receiving anything in return. This love and devotion, He assures us, will bring us infinite happiness. Abhinavagupta said, “When such important types of action are obediently performed without any concern for personal gain or from any narrow motive, then one experiences freedom fully.”
Krishna wants us to understand the insurmountable benefits that come from choosing the sattvic path in all matters. He gives many examples of what one is like who has chosen this path. In contrast, he offers descriptions of those who are influenced more strongly by rajas and tamas. From a tantric view, we see that it is indeed our true nature to be sattvic because our true nature is satcitanada, truth, knowledge and bliss—qualities of the divine. We can free ourselves from the power of the gunas by choosing sattva, as this merges us with the divine, which is uninfluenced by these forces. If sattva is our true nature, than the sattvic choice must be the most natural one. To put it simply, when truly informed, we know in our hearts what the right decision is and we choose it because it is right. The teachings of The Gita invite is into the always present wellspring of knowledge and joy that is our innermost nature.
In the end, Krishna advises Arjuna to turn inside and reflect on his teachings, for no great lesson is truly understood without personal reflection and contemplation. As the great text is concluded Krishna reminds Arjuna that the choice is his—“do as you please.” Because of divine free will, svatantriya, we all have the ability to choose our path. The Bhagavad Gita tells us that the answers to these choices are within us but it is up to us to choose our route.
