Bhagavad-gītā 18.23
Read once with your eyes. Read again aloud.
नियतं सङ्गरहितमरागद्वेषतः कृतम्।अफलप्रेप्सुना कर्म यत्तत्सात्त्विकमुच्यते।।18.23।।
niyataṁ saṅga-rahitam arāga-dveṣhataḥ kṛitam aphala-prepsunā karma yat tat sāttvikam uchyate
An obligatory action done by one who is disinterested, who neither likes nor dislikes it, and gives no thought to the consequences that may follow, such an action is Pure.
English rendering by Shri Purohit Swami. Each source voice remains named.
Build the sentence from its parts
Read across once, then cover the meanings and recover them from the Sanskrit forms.
| Sanskrit form | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| niyatam | in accordance with scriptures |
| saṅga-rahitam | free from attachment |
| arāga-dveṣhataḥ | free from attachment and aversion |
| kṛitam | done |
| aphala-prepsunā | without desire for rewards |
| karma | action |
| yat | which |
| tat | that |
| sāttvikam | in the mode of goodness |
| uchyate | is called |
One is not excited to perform an obligatory action through love or hatred. The performer of such pure action experiences great joy.
Attributed explanatory witness: Swami Sivananda. Chapter lens: Follow the great recapitulation through renunciation, action, knowledge, duty, devotion, refuge and Sañjaya’s conclusion.
Three named reading witnesses
Śaṅkara edition witness
Swami GambiranandaThe daily obligatory action which is performed without attachment and without likes or dislikes, by one who does not hanker for rewards, is said to be born of sattva.
Rāmānuja edition witness
Swami AdidevanandaThat obligatory act is said to be Sattvika, which is done without attachment, without desire or aversion, and by one who seeks no fruit.
Sivananda commentary witness
Swami SivanandaOne is not excited to perform an obligatory action through love or hatred. The performer of such pure action experiences great joy.
These are concise, attributed reading witnesses from identified editions. They are presented for comparison and are not merged into one anonymous interpretation.
Meaning map
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- 1
An obligatory action done by one who is disinterested, who neither likes nor dislikes it
- 2
gives no thought to the consequences that may follow, such an action is Pure
- 3
niyatam: in accordance with scriptures
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