1 Gita Sloka Every Day - Chapter 18 - Moksha Sanyasa Yoga - Sloka 1

The entire content of this mail is from Shri V N Gopala Desikan's  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, published by Vishishtadvaita Research Centre, Chennai and The Bhagavad Gita by Swami Chidbhavananda published by Ramakrishna Mission

Sanyasa & Tyaga Explained  1-6

1 Gita Sloka  Every Day - Chapter 18 - Moksha Sanyasa Yoga - Sloka 1

Arjuna Uvacha

Sanyasasya mahabaho tad tvam icchami veditum I

Tyagasya cha hrishikesha prithak keshi nishudana II Sloka 1

अर्जुन उवाच 
संयासस्य महाबाहो तद् त्वं इच्छामि वेदितुम् I 
त्यागस्य च हृषीकेश पृथक् केशी निषूदन II  श्लोक 1

Arjuna said

I desire to know severally, O mighty armed one, the truth of sanyasa, O Hrishikesha, as also of tyaga, O slayer of Kesi.

These truths have not been left unexplained; what have been enunciated already are recapitulated for clarification. The early part of this chapter therefore, deals with the harmonization of all the yogas. It is possible to present the same principle in different forms, in a different setting. It may even seem a new theme because of the variation of the context. Truth permits itself to be presented in a variety of patterns, and each pattern provides an appeal of its own. Each limb of an elephant leaves its special impression on the observer's mind. This majestic animal again, creates a comprehensive  impress on its beholder. The position  of the Bhagavad Gita is very much like this. Each chapter in it is designated as a particular yoga. While the book as a whole is considered as a yoga shastra, the eighteenth chapteris regarded as its synopsis.

Kesi was an asura who assumed the form of a horse and encountered Krishna, intent on swallowing Him up. But Krishna thrust his arm into the stomach of the demon, squeezed his bowels into a paste and did away with him. He is therefore extolled as Keshinishudana. His arms being the sinews of war, he is esteemed as Mahabahu or the mighty armed. In the midst of these deeds of valour, he was ever the master of the senses. He is therefore praised as Hrishikesha.

There is an implied purpose in Arjuna's addressing as the lord of the senses, as the mighty-armed and as the slayer of Kesi. The process of the evolution of beings from the low to the high is all contained in these three epithets. Encountering and vanquishing of the demon is a cosmic function and hence a necessity. Every creature in this universe has enemies to encounter, dangers to life and evils to conquer. and all of them are compelled to undergo training for their conquest. Acquisition of strength is the reward for living earthly life with a purpose. The strong ones thrive while the weak ones are exterminated. Man is to make himself strong physically and also to avail himself of all the weapons of offence and defense that can be got from nature. This is the message contained in Sri Krishna being the slayer of Kesi and in his being the mighty armed. Finally man has to conquer his senses and mind. This is the greatest of all conquests. It is by subduing the senses and the mind that man evolves in his spiritual path. The Lord delivers this message, himself being Hrishikesha, the lord of the senses.

In Chapter 5  stanza 13 and in Chapter 9 stanza 28, the lord refers to sanyasa. In Chapter 4 stanza 20 & in chapter 12 stanza 11m he mentions tyaga.

These two spiritual require to be clarified and differentiated. This is the purport of the question raised by Arjuna. Tge lord answers the question