Verse 18.23
नियतं सङ्गरहितमरागद्वेषतः कृतम् ।
अफलप्रेप्सुना कर्म यत्तत्सात्त्विकमुच्यते ॥
Transliteration
niyataṃ saṅgarahitamarāgadveṣataḥ kṛtam |
aphalaprepsunā karma yattatsāttvikamucyate ||
By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · @indic-transliteration/sanscript 1.3.3
Translation
An action which is ordained, which is free from attachment, and which is done without love or hatred by one who is not desirous of any reward that action is declared to be Sattvic.
From the owner's sheet · +1 more
An obligatory action done without attachment, without love or hatred, by one who does not seek its fruit, is called sattvic.
By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · claude-opus-5-5 · 2026-11-08 · +1 more
Word by word
By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · claude-opus-5-5 · 2026-11-08
Explanation
Krishna now classifies action. Sattvic action is an obligatory deed done without attachment, without attraction or aversion, by one who does not crave its fruit. This restates the ideal of selfless action that the Gita has taught throughout. The action is not avoided, nor is it driven by personal preference. It is done because it is right, and the doer remains inwardly free whatever the outcome.
By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · claude-opus-5-5 · 2026-11-08