Acharya Prashant addresses the misconception that the principles of renunciation and surrender have been detrimental to India. He clarifies that renunciation (tyaag) does not mean abandoning things that are useful. The primary work for a human being is to attain freedom (mukti) from their weaknesses, ignorance, and delusions. True renunciation, therefore, involves engaging in actions and acquiring things that support this ultimate goal, while letting go of everything that is unhelpful. This process, he emphasizes, leads to strength, not weakness. The speaker explains that renunciation is fundamentally an act of discernment (vivek). It is the intelligent choice of one path, which inherently means saying 'no' to others. Using the analogy of a journey, he illustrates that to reach a destination, one must renounce all alternative routes. This is not a compulsion but an act of wisdom. He provides examples, such as putting down an axe to write with a pen or focusing one's attention on the speaker in a hall, as practical forms of renunciation that strengthen focus and purpose. Acharya Prashant refutes the argument that India's historical decline was caused by its spiritual values of renunciation. He posits the exact opposite: India's losses and subjugation occurred because its people failed to renounce what was harmful, such as greed and internal divisions. The nation's downfall stemmed from not adhering to Dharma, rather than from following it. He likens the argument to a failing student who blames his books and teachers instead of his own lack of application, stating that the blame for India's misfortunes is wrongly placed on its profound scriptures. He concludes that India was defeated not because it knew renunciation and surrender, but because it failed to truly practice them. The path to regaining strength lies not in discarding ancient wisdom but in returning to it with honesty and purity. Renunciation is the renunciation of one's weaknesses, not one's strength. It is a purifying act, like cleaning dirt from the body, which makes one stronger. He notes that surrender is a concept closely related to renunciation.