Bhagavad Gita 17.11
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 11 of 28
अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर् यज्ञो विधिदिष्टो य इज्यते । यष्टव्यम् एवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः ॥
aphalākāṅkṣibhir yajño vidhi-diṣṭo ya ijyate | yaṣṭavyam eveti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ ||
Sāttvic yajña: performed as ordained, without fruit-desire, with the conviction 'this must be done.'
Word by word (3)
- aphalākāṅkṣibhiḥ yajño vidhi-diṣṭaḥ yaḥ ijyate
- — the sacrifice (yajño) that is performed (ijyate) as prescribed by ordinance (vidhi-diṣṭaḥ) by those not desiring fruit (aphalākāṅkṣibhiḥ = a+phala+āṅkṣin = non-fruit-seekers)
- yaṣṭavyam eva iti manaḥ samādhāya
- — with the mind (manaḥ) resolved/determined (samādhāya) in this conviction: 'this MUST be performed' (yaṣṭavyam eva iti) — not 'may be done' but duty-imperative
- sa sāttvikaḥ
- — that (sa) is sāttvic (sāttvikaḥ) — the definition: right performance + right motivation (no fruit-desire) + right basis (śāstric ordinance)
That sacrifice which is performed as ordained by scripture, by those who desire no fruit from it, with the mind resolving 'this is a duty to be performed' — that is sāttvic.
A modern analogy
Sāttvic sacrifice is like a doctor who practices medicine because it is the right thing to do — not to gain fame or money, following established medical protocol rather than personal whim. The resolve is 'this must be done' not 'I will gain from this.' It is discipline with clarity.
Public-domain translations (4) compare all →
MISSING from index. Ganguli and Telang used as primary. [1]
MISSING from index. Ganguli and Telang used as primary. [4]
That sacrifice is good which, being prescribed in (scripture) ordinances, is performed by persons not wishing for the fruit (of it), and after determining (in their) mind that the sacrifice must needs be performed. [9]
That sacrifice is good which, being prescribed by the ordinance, is performed by persons, without any longing for the fruit (thereof) and the mind being determined (to it under the belief) that its performance is a duty. [13]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Sāttvic tyāga: niyata karma done ONLY because 'this must be done,' having abandoned attachment and fruit.
Hear My definitive word on tyāga, O best of Bharatas — tyāga has been declared three-fold, O tiger among men.
The unattached-minded, self-conquered, desire-free one attains supreme naiskarmya-siddhi through sannyāsa.
Sannyāsa = abandoning desire-motivated action; tyāga = abandoning fruits of ALL action — say the learned.
Who acts in duty without depending on fruit — that one is the true sannyāsī and yogī, not the fireless or the inactive.
Sāttvic dāna: given with 'this must be given,' to one expecting no return, at right place, time, and recipient.
Verse 11 of 28 · back to Chapter 17