Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14, Verse 16

Chapter 14 – Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

कर्मणः सुकृतस्याहुः सात्त्विकं निर्मलं फलम् ।
रजसस्तु फलं दुःखमज्ञानं तमसः फलम् ॥

Transliteration

karmaṇaḥ sukṛtasyāhuḥ sāttvikaṃ nirmalaṃ phalam .
rajasastu phalaṃ duḥkhamajñānaṃ tamasaḥ phalam ॥

Meaning

The sages say that the fruit of good (sattvic) action is pure and sattvic; the fruit of rajas is pain, and the fruit of tamas is ignorance.

Word meanings

कर्मणः – of action
सुकृतस्य – of good (sattvic) action
आहुः – they say
सात्त्विकम् – sattvic, full of joy and knowledge
निर्मलम् – pure, stainless
फलम् – fruit
रजसः – of rajas (rajasic action)
तु – but
फलम् – fruit
दुःखम् – pain, sorrow
अज्ञानम् – ignorance
तमसः – of tamas (tamasic action)
फलम् – fruit

Anvaya (word order)

सुकृतस्य कर्मणः फलं सात्त्विकं निर्मलम् आहुः; रजसः तु फलं दुःखम्, तमसः फलम् अज्ञानम् ।

Explanation

Having described how the guna dominant at death determines one's destination, Krishna now states the law governing the fruits of actions performed during life. The word ahuh, 'they say', shows that this is not only His view but the settled judgement of the sages and scriptures.

Sukrita, good or sattvic action, is done as duty, without craving for its fruit and with a pure motive. Its fruit is likewise 'sattvic and pure'. Such actions purify the mind and bring real joy and understanding, and they leave no regret behind.

The fruit of rajasic action is duhkha, pain. This may seem surprising, since rajasic actions are undertaken precisely in pursuit of pleasure. Yet Krishna says their final result is sorrow. Action driven by desire is full of strain, rivalry, anxiety, fear of loss and disappointment when results fail to come; and even when results do come, they are short-lived and kindle fresh craving. Shankara notes that the nature of the cause appears in the effect: rajas is painful in nature, so its fruit is pain.

The fruit of tamasic action is ajnana, ignorance. Such actions dull the intellect further and lead a person into deeper darkness. Each guna yields fruit according to its own nature.

Context

The previous two verses described the results of the gunas at the time of death; this verse gives the fruits of actions in life according to the gunas. The next verse states what each guna gives rise to.

Life lesson

The fruit of an action depends on the spirit behind it. Action done with a pure motive brings peace, action driven by craving brings stress, and careless action brings confusion. Refine your motives as well as your deeds.

Key terms

Sukrita: Good, sattvic action
Nirmala phala: Pure fruit — genuine joy and understanding