In Bhagavad Gita 14.16, Krishna says the fruit of good action is sattvic and pure, the fruit of rajas is pain, and the fruit of tamas is ignorance.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
कर्मणः सुकृतस्याहुः
सात्त्विकं निर्मलं फलम्
रजसस्तु फलं दुःखम्
अज्ञानं तमसः फलम् ॥ १४-१६ ॥
karmaṇaḥ sukṛtasyāhuḥ
sāttvikaṃ nirmalaṃ phalam
rajasastu phalaṃ duḥkham
ajñānaṃ tamasaḥ phalam
English transliteration karmanah sukritasyaahuh
saattvikam nirmalam phalam
rajasastu phalam duhkham
ajnaanam tamasah phalam ॥ 14.16 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The fruit of good action is said to be sattvic and pure; the fruit of rajas is pain; and the fruit of tamas is ignorance.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| कर्मणः karmaṇaḥ | of action |
| सुकृतस्य sukṛtasya | good |
| आहुः āhuḥ | is said |
| सात्त्विकम् sāttvikam | sattvic |
| निर्मलम् nirmalam | pure |
| फलम् phalam | fruit |
| रजसः rajasaḥ | of rajas |
| तु tu | but |
| फलम् phalam | fruit |
| दुःखम् duḥkham | pain |
| अज्ञानम् ajñānam | ignorance |
| तमसः tamasaḥ | of tamas |
| फलम् phalam | fruit |
Word-wise Chanting
- kar–ma–ṇaḥ su–kṛ–tas–yā–huḥ 8 syllables kar-ma-nah su-kri-tas-yaa-huh
- sāt–tvi–kaṃ nir–ma–laṃ pha–lam | 8 syllables saat-tvi-kam nir-ma-lam pha-lam
- ra–ja–sas–tu pha–laṃ duḥ–kham– 8 syllables ra-ja-sas-tu pha-lam duh-kham-
- a–jñā–naṃ ta–ma–saḥ pha–lam || 14-16 8 syllables a-jnaa-nam ta-ma-sah pha-lam
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 14 Verse 16
Context
Krishna describes the results of the gunas (14.16–14.18).
Meaning
Actions done in sattva bring nirmala, pure, results: peace and clarity. Actions driven by rajas eventually bring duḥkha, pain, because craving is never satisfied. Actions in tamas bring ajñāna, deeper ignorance.
We can judge an action by its fruit. If it leaves us clearer, it was sattvic; if it leaves us exhausted and dissatisfied, it was rajasic; if it leaves us duller, it was tamasic.
In Practice
At the end of the day, review your main actions and the state each left you in.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 14: Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga (The Three Gunas). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.