Complete learning edition. The Sanskrit source remains separate from attributed word meanings, translation, explanation and commentary witnesses. Diagrams and memory aids are study tools, not replacements for the source text.
कार्यमित्येव यत्कर्म नियतं क्रियतेऽर्जुन।सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलं चैव स त्यागः सात्त्विको मतः।।18.9।।
kāryam ity eva yat karma niyataṁ kriyate ‘rjuna saṅgaṁ tyaktvā phalaṁ chaiva sa tyāgaḥ sāttviko mataḥ
He who performs an obligatory action, believing it to be a duty that ought to be done, without any personal desire to do the act or to receive any return:such renunciation is pure.
English rendering by Shri Purohit Swami. Each source voice remains named.
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| Sanskrit form | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| kāryam | as a duty |
| iti | as |
| eva | indeed |
| yat | which |
| karma niyatam | obligatory actions |
| kriyate | are performed |
| arjuna | Arjun |
| saṅgam | attachment |
| tyaktvā | relinquishing |
| phalam | reward |
| cha | and |
| eva | certainly |
| saḥ | such |
| tyāgaḥ | renunciation of desires for enjoying the fruits of actions |
| sāttvikaḥ | in the mode of goodness |
| mataḥ | considered |
A man of pure nature performs actions that have fallen to his lot in accordance with his capacity and his inherent nature. He is not filled with the pride that he is the performer of such actions nor does he hope for any gain therefrom.
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 GambiranandaWhatever obligatory duty is performed just because it is a bounden duty, O Arjuna, by giving up attachment and the results as well:that renunciation is considered to be based on sattva.
Rāmānuja edition witness
Swami AdidevanandaWhen actions are performed as they ought to be done, O Arjuna, renouncing attachment and the results thereof, such abandonment is regarded as Sattvika.
Sivananda commentary witness
Swami SivanandaA man of pure nature performs actions that have fallen to his lot in accordance with his capacity and his inherent nature. He is not filled with the pride that he is the performer of such actions nor does he hope for any gain therefrom.
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
He who performs an obligatory action, believing it to be a duty that ought to be done, without any personal desire to do the act or to receive any return
- 2
such renunciation is pure
- 3
kāryam: as a duty
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Follow the great recapitulation through renunciation, action, knowledge, duty, devotion, refuge and Sañjaya’s conclusion.
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