Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17, Verse 11

Chapter 17 – Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

अफलाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते ।
यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः ॥

Transliteration

aphalāṅkṣibhiryajño vidhidṛṣṭo ya ijyate .
yaṣṭavyameveti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ ॥

Meaning

That sacrifice is sattvic which is offered according to scriptural injunction by those who desire no reward, with the mind firmly resolved that it ought to be done as a duty.

Word meanings

अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिः – by those who desire no reward
यज्ञः – sacrifice
विधिदृष्टः – enjoined by scripture
यः – which
इज्यते – is offered
यष्टव्यम् – ought to be offered, is a duty
एव – simply
इति – thus
मनः – the mind
समाधाय – having firmly resolved
सः – that
सात्त्विकः – sattvic

Anvaya (word order)

यः यज्ञः विधिदृष्टः, यष्टव्यम् एव इति मनः समाधाय अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिः इज्यते, सः सात्त्विकः ।

Explanation

After food, Krishna describes the three kinds of sacrifice, beginning with the sattvic. It has three marks.

First, aphalakankshibhih: it is performed by those who desire no reward. There is no bargain behind it: 'If I do this, I shall get that.' This is the very essence of the Gita's karma yoga (2.47).

Second, vidhi-drishtah: it follows the procedure laid down in scripture. The sattvic person sacrifices not according to his own fancy or convenience but under the guidance of scripture and tradition. This brings discipline and purity to the act.

Third and most beautiful, yashtavyam eveti manah samadhaya: with the mind firmly resolved that 'this ought to be done; it is my duty'. The reason for the sacrifice is not any gain but the sense of duty alone. As a mother cares for her child not for a reward but because it is her natural dharma, the sattvic person regards sacrifice as the natural duty of his life.

Yajna should be understood broadly. In Chapters 3 and 4 Krishna taught that sacrifice is not only the fire ritual; every selfless act done to repay one's debt to nature, society, parents, teachers and God is yajna (3.10–16, 4.24–33). Seen this way, one who does his work honestly, as a duty and without attachment to results, is also offering a sattvic sacrifice.

Context

Verses 8 to 10 described the three kinds of food; here the three kinds of sacrifice begin with the sattvic. The next two verses describe rajasic and tamasic sacrifice.

Life lesson

Do worship, service or any good work in the spirit of 'this is my duty', not as a bargain for some reward. Action done from a sense of duty is the purest and most peaceful.

Key terms

Sattvic yajna: Sacrifice performed according to scripture, as duty, without desire for reward
Vidhi-drishta: In accordance with scriptural injunction
Yashtavyam: 'It ought to be done' — the attitude of duty