In Bhagavad Gita 17.11, Krishna says sacrifice offered according to scripture by those not seeking reward, with the conviction that it is simply a duty, is sattvic.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो
विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते
यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः
समाधाय स सात्त्विकः ॥ १७-११ ॥
aphalākāṅkṣibhiryajño
vidhidṛṣṭo ya ijyate
yaṣṭavyameveti manaḥ
samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ
English transliteration aphalaakaankshibhiryajno
vidhidrishto ya ijyate
yashtavyameveti manah
samaadhaaya sa saattvikah ॥ 17.11 ॥
Translation / Meaning
That sacrifice is sattvic which is offered according to scriptural injunction by those who do not desire its fruit, with the mind firmly resolved that it ought to be done.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिः aphalākāṅkṣibhiḥ | by those who do not desire its fruit a (not) + phala (fruit) + ākāṅkṣibhiḥ (desiring) |
| यज्ञः yajñaḥ | sacrifice |
| विधिदृष्टः vidhidṛṣṭaḥ | according to scriptural injunction vidhi (injunction) + dṛṣṭaḥ (seen) |
| यः yaḥ | which |
| इज्यते ijyate | is offered |
| यष्टव्यम् yaṣṭavyam | ought to be done |
| एव eva | simply |
| इति iti | thus |
| मनः manaḥ | mind |
| समाधाय samādhāya | firmly resolving |
| सः saḥ | that |
| सात्त्विकः sāttvikaḥ | sattvic |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–pha–lā–kāṅ–kṣi–bhir–ya–jño 8 syllables a-pha-laa-kaan-kshi-bhir-ya-jno
- vi–dhi–dṛṣ–ṭo ya ij–ya–te | 8 syllables vi-dhi-drish-to ya ij-ya-te
- yaṣ–ṭav–ya–me–ve–ti ma–naḥ 8 syllables yash-tav-ya-me-ve-ti ma-nah
- sa–mā–dhā–ya sa sāt–tvi–kaḥ || 17-11 8 syllables sa-maa-dhaa-ya sa saat-tvi-kah
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 17 Verse 11
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of sacrifice (17.11–17.13).
Meaning
Sattvic yajña is offered vidhi-dṛṣṭa, in the proper way; aphala-ākāṅkṣin, without desire for reward; and with the inner resolve yaṣṭavyam eva, “this ought to be offered.” It is done for its own sake, as a duty and an act of love.
Worship done without bargaining is the purest. We offer because offering is right, not to get something.
In Practice
Offer a prayer or act of worship today without asking for anything.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 17: Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga (The Threefold Nature of Faith). 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.