Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 26

Chapter 18 – Moksha Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

मुक्तसङ्गोऽनहंवादी धृत्युत्साहसमन्वितः ।
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योर्निर्विकारः कर्ता सात्त्विक उच्यते ॥

Transliteration

muktasaṅgo.anahaṃvādī dhṛtyutsāhasamanvitaḥ .
siddhyasiddhyornirvikāraḥ kartā sāttvika ucyate ॥

Meaning

The doer who is free from attachment, not given to egoistic talk, endowed with fortitude and enthusiasm, and unaffected by success or failure, is called sattvic.

Word meanings

मुक्तसङ्गः – free from attachment
अनहंवादी – not speaking of 'I', free from egoistic talk
धृत्युत्साहसमन्वितः – endowed with fortitude and enthusiasm
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः – in success and failure
निर्विकारः – unaffected, unperturbed
कर्ता – the doer
सात्त्विकः – sattvic
उच्यते – is called

Anvaya (word order)

मुक्तसङ्गः अनहंवादी धृत्युत्साहसमन्वितः सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः निर्विकारः कर्ता सात्त्विकः उच्यते ।

Explanation

After knowledge and action come the three kinds of doer. The portrait of the sattvic doer is truly inspiring. His first quality is mukta-sanga — he is free from attachment to the action and its fruit. His second is anahamvadi — he does not boast, 'I did this, I did that.' His work speaks; he does not need to.

The third quality is perhaps the most important: dhrity-utsaha-samanvita, endowed with both fortitude and enthusiasm. This is a beautiful balance. Many assume that detachment means indifference, but the Gita says the sattvic doer is full of enthusiasm. He also has dhriti, steadiness and perseverance, which keeps him firm amid obstacles. Enthusiasm without fortitude is short-lived; fortitude without enthusiasm is dull. Together they make excellent work possible.

The fourth is siddhy-asiddhyor nirvikara — unmoved by success and failure. Success does not make him proud; failure does not make him despondent. This is the living form of samatvam yoga uchyate, 'equanimity is yoga' (2.48). Such a doer accepts the result as the Lord's gift and moves on to the next duty.

Both Shankara and Ramanuja hold that such a doer advances on the path to liberation. Ramanuja adds that because he regards his work as worship of the Lord, he remains enthusiastic even in a task as hard as war.

Context

The preceding verses (18.23–25) described the three kinds of action. This verse describes the sattvic doer. The next two verses describe the rajasic (18.27) and tamasic (18.28) doer.

Life lesson

Detachment does not mean indifference — bring both enthusiasm and perseverance to your work. Do not trumpet your achievements; let your work be your introduction. Accept success and failure with equal mind and keep moving forward.

Key terms

Sattvic karta: A doer who is unattached, humble, steady, enthusiastic and even-minded
Anahamvadi: One who does not speak egoistically
Dhriti: Fortitude, steadiness
Utsaha: Enthusiasm, zeal for work
Nirvikara: Unperturbed by success or failure