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Pravrtti (प्रवृत्ति), is outward action and nivrtti (निवृत्ति), is inward contemplation. These two when governed by dharma (धर्म) , bring about stability of the world.<ref name=":0">Swami, Ranganathananda, Universal Message of Bhagavad Gita: An exposition of the Gita in the Light of Modern Thought and Modern Needs. Volume 1 </ref>

Pravrtti (Samskrit: प्रवृत्ति:) is outward action and Nivrtti (Samskrit: निवृत्ति:) is inward contemplation. These two when governed by dharma (धर्म:), bring about stability of the world.<ref name=":0">Swami, Ranganathananda, Universal Message of Bhagavad Gita: An exposition of the Gita in the Light of Modern Thought and Modern Needs. Volume 1 </ref>

Vedanta recognizes a super-conscious level of cognition, besides the conscious, the pre-conscious, the sub-conscious, and the unconscious. [[Nivrtti (निवृत्ति)|Nivrtti]] refers to that super-conscious level with respect to human creativity. Nivrtti helps to manifest the adhyatmik energy that is within every being in the form of inherent divine spark.<ref name=":0" />

It is said that by performance of Pravrtta karma, a person is born again in Samsara, while by Nivrtta karma he attains moksha.<ref name=":2">Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare, The Bhagavata Purana (Part III), Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology (Volume 9), Edited by J.L.Shastri, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, P.no.[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.150116/page/n115/mode/2up 985-996].</ref><blockquote>प्रवृत्तं च निवृत्तं च द्विविधं कर्म वैदिकम् | आवर्तते प्रवृत्तेन निवृत्तेनाश्नुतेऽमृतम् ||४७||<ref name=":3">Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 7, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AD/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AB Adhyaya 15].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''pravr̥ttaṁ ca nivr̥ttaṁ ca dvividhaṁ karma vaidikam | āvartatē pravr̥ttēna nivr̥ttēnāśnutē'mr̥tam ||47||''</blockquote>

 

The Bhagavata Purana (Skandha 7, Adhyaya 15) enlists Pravrtta karmas as follows: <blockquote>हिंस्रं द्रव्यमयं काम्यमग्निहोत्राद्यशान्तिदम् | दर्शश्च पूर्णमासश्च चातुर्मास्यं पशुः सुतः ||४८||</blockquote><blockquote>एतदिष्टं प्रवृत्ताख्यं हुतं प्रहुतमेव च | पूर्तं सुरालयाराम कूपा जीव्यादिलक्षणम् ||४९||<ref name=":3" /></blockquote><blockquote>''hiṁsraṁ dravyamayaṁ kāmyamagnihōtrādyaśāntidam | darśaśca pūrṇamāsaśca cāturmāsyaṁ paśuḥ sutaḥ ||48||''</blockquote><blockquote>''ētadiṣṭaṁ pravr̥ttākhyaṁ hutaṁ prahutamēva ca | pūrtaṁ surālayārāma kūpā jīvyādilakṣaṇam ||49||''</blockquote>Meaning: Ritualistic ceremonies known as Agnihotra (maintenance of daily domestic fire worship), Darsha (yajna to be performed on the New Moon day), Purnamasa (yajna on the Full Moon day), Chaturmasya (a yajna to be performed at the beginning of a quarter - four monthly division - of the year), Pashu-yajna, Soma-yajna, etc involve violence and offering of valuables, especially foodgrains for the fulfillment of material desires and hence are called Kamya but they create anxiety. Such yajnas  as well as oblations to Vaishvadeva (offered before taking meals) and Bali-harana (offering of food to deities, household divinities, men and other creatures) constitute ishta-karmas; while construction of temples, gardens, tanks or wells and booths for supplying food and water are known as Purta-karmas (done for the benefit of people). And, both ishta and purta karmas are included under Pravrtta karma.<ref name=":2" /><ref>A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam (Seventh Canto), [http://prabhupadabooks.com/pdf/SB7.3.pdf Part 3-Chapters 10-15], 1976: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.</ref>

== Detailed Discussion ==

== Detailed Discussion ==

KS Narayanacharya explains Pravrtti as the "forward path" of life in all its continuity. Wedded to progeny, earnings, social and political welfare, and worldly affairs of all kind.<ref name=":1">Insights Into the Taittiriya Upanishad, Dr. K. S. Narayanacharya, Published by Kautilya Institute of National Studies, Mysore, Page 75 (Glossary)</ref>   

KS Narayanacharya explains Pravrtti as the "forward path" of life in all its continuity. Wedded to progeny, earnings, social and political welfare, and worldly affairs of all kind.<ref name=":1">Insights Into the Taittiriya Upanishad, Dr. K. S. Narayanacharya, Published by Kautilya Institute of National Studies, Mysore, Page 75 (Glossary)</ref>   

K. S. Narayanacharya explains Nivrtti as "The return path to God. Renouncement of all social and political obligations.<ref name=":1" />    

K. S. Narayanacharya explains Nivrtti as "The return path to God. Renouncement of all social and political obligations.<ref name=":1" />

==Swami Ranganathananda Explains Nivrtti==

==Swami Ranganathananda Explains Nivrtti==

Swami Ranganathananda says: 'One may achieve all the comforts of life—house, education, clean surroundings, economic strength. and varieties of pleasures. Yet there will be no peace of mind because one has not known one's true Self, the spark of innate divinity. Your centre of gravity is always outside. You miss your true dignity and have become a slave of things. This race for materialistic pursuits causes inner tensions, crime and delinquency and slowly decay sets in. This can be avoided when we add the second value [[nivrtti (निवृत्ति)]] to life. Through [[nivrtti (निवृत्ति)]] one comes in touch with the ever present Divine within.<ref name=":0" />

Swami Ranganathananda says: 'One may achieve all the comforts of life—house, education, clean surroundings, economic strength. and varieties of pleasures. Yet there will be no peace of mind because one has not known one's true Self, the spark of innate divinity. Your centre of gravity is always outside. You miss your true dignity and have become a slave of things. This race for materialistic pursuits causes inner tensions, crime and delinquency and slowly decay sets in. This can be avoided when we add the second value [[nivrtti (निवृत्ति)]] to life. Through [[nivrtti (निवृत्ति)]] one comes in touch with the ever present Divine within.<ref name=":0" />