The Pure Renunciation
Sāttvika-tyāga is the form of renunciation taught in the Bhagavad Gītā (18.9–11) and elaborated extensively in Sri Vaishnava theology. Unlike complete withdrawal from action (which Kṛṣṇa criticizes as tamasic renunciation), sāttvika-tyāga involves: (1) renouncing the sense of agency — 'I am the doer' (kartṛtva-tyāga); and (2) renouncing the desire for the fruits of action (phala-tyāga). The action itself continues.
Two Levels in Sri Vaishnava Thought
Rāmānuja identifies two levels: (1) karma-yoga practitioners who renounce fruits while understanding the Lord as the true agent; and (2) prapannas who go further — renouncing both the sense of agency and the very sense of ownership of the act of prapatti itself. This deeper sāttvika-tyāga is the culmination of the surrendered life.
Avoiding the Mistake of Mamata
The error to be avoided is mamata — 'mine-ness' — claiming the religious act as one's own spiritual achievement. Sāttvika-tyāga removes this claim. Even the act of surrender (prapatti) is not 'my spiritual accomplishment' but the Lord's own grace acting through the soul. The ācārya instructs the disciple in this understanding so that prapatti is performed without pride of authorship.
Practical Implications
For the Sri Vaishnava householder, sāttvika-tyāga means performing all duties — domestic, professional, ritual — as kaiṅkarya (service to the Lord), without expecting personal return and without ego-investment in the outcomes. This is the lived form of the theological principle that the jīva is śeṣa (attribute) of the Lord.