Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 9

Chapter 18 – Moksha Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

कार्यमित्येव यत्कर्म नियतं क्रियतेऽर्जुन ।
सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलं चैव स त्यागः सात्त्विको मतः ॥

Transliteration

kāryamityeva yatkarma niyataṃ kriyate.arjuna .
saṅgaṃ tyaktvā phalaṃ caiva sa tyāgaḥ sāttviko mataḥ ॥

Meaning

When obligatory action is performed simply because it ought to be done, O Arjuna, giving up attachment and the fruit, that relinquishment is regarded as sattvic.

Word meanings

कार्यम् – ought to be done, duty
इति एव – simply thinking thus
यत् – which
कर्म – action
नियतम् – obligatory, prescribed
क्रियते – is performed
अर्जुन – O Arjuna
सङ्गम् – attachment
त्यक्त्वा – having given up
फलम् – fruit
च एव – and also
सः – that
त्यागः – relinquishment
सात्त्विकः – sattvic, of the quality of goodness
मतः – is considered

Anvaya (word order)

अर्जुन, ‘कार्यम्’ इति एव यत् नियतं कर्म सङ्गं फलं च एव त्यक्त्वा क्रियते, सः त्यागः सात्त्विकः मतः ।

Explanation

This verse is the heart of the Gita's teaching on relinquishment. In tamasic relinquishment action is dropped through delusion; in rajasic relinquishment, through fear of discomfort. In sattvic relinquishment action is not dropped at all. It is carried out with full commitment, and only two things are let go: sanga, attachment, and phala, the fruit. This is a revolutionary insight: renunciation takes place within, not without. What must be given up is not the work, but the ego and craving that cling to it.

Karyam iti eva — 'simply because it ought to be done' — captures the entire attitude of the sattvic worker. He acts because the action is right, not for praise, not for profit, not out of fear. A mother does not calculate before caring for her child; a true soldier regards duty as its own reward. For such a person the fulfilment of duty is complete in itself; its value does not depend on external results.

Niyatam karma — prescribed action — is equally important. The sattvic renouncer does not pick actions on a whim; he performs what his svadharma, his situation in life and scripture require. His action thus has both discipline and freedom: discipline, because he is bound to duty; freedom, because he is released from the fruit.

A question naturally arises: can anyone act without wanting a result? The Gita's answer is that an action may have a purpose and a plan, but the mind must not be ruled by the outcome. One gives one's very best effort and then leaves the result to God and to the order of things. Far from weakening action, this makes it more skilful, because a mind free from anxiety can be wholly absorbed in the task. This is yogah karmasu kaushalam, 'yoga is skill in action' (2.50).

For Shankara, sattvic relinquishment purifies the mind, and in a purified mind knowledge of the Self dawns, which finally makes possible the renunciation of all action in the steadfastness of knowledge. Ramanuja holds that giving up the sense of doership is also intended: regarding the action as the Lord's own and doing it for his pleasure is the fullness of sattvic relinquishment. Madhva sees it as action dedicated to the Lord that makes the seeker worthy of divine grace.

The message for Arjuna is clear: abandoning the war would not be renunciation. Fighting as a duty, without attachment to kingdom or victory, is true renunciation.

Context

The previous two verses described tamasic and rajasic relinquishment. This verse defines the highest, sattvic relinquishment. In the next verse (18.10) Krishna describes the characteristics of the sattvic renouncer.

Life lesson

Do your work because it is worth doing — not for applause, gain or out of fear. Give your full effort towards the result, but do not let anxiety about the result rule your mind. When duty itself becomes the reward, work becomes a source of joy and peace.

Key terms

Sattvic tyaga: Performing duty while giving up attachment and fruit
Karyam iti: 'This ought to be done' — the attitude of pure duty
Niyata karma: Prescribed, obligatory action
Sanga-tyaga: Giving up attachment to the act and to doership
Phala-tyaga: Giving up desire for the result