In Bhagavad Gita 18.23, Krishna says action that is obligatory, done without attachment, without love or hatred, by one who does not desire its fruit, is sattvic.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
नियतं सङ्गरहितम्
अरागद्वेषतः कृतम्
अफलप्रेप्सुना कर्म
यत्तत्सात्त्विकमुच्यते ॥ १८-२३ ॥
niyataṃ saṅgarahitam
arāgadveṣataḥ kṛtam
aphalaprepsunā karma
yattatsāttvikamucyate
English transliteration niyatam sangarahitam
araagadveshatah kritam
aphalaprepsunaa karma
yattatsaattvikamuchyate ॥ 18.23 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Action that is obligatory, performed without attachment, without love or hatred, by one who does not desire its fruit, is said to be sattvic.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| नियतम् niyatam | obligatory |
| सङ्गरहितम् saṅgarahitam | without attachment saṅga (attachment) + rahitam (without) |
| अरागद्वेषतः arāgadveṣataḥ | without love or hatred arāga (without love) + dveṣataḥ (hatred) |
| कृतम् kṛtam | performed |
| अफलप्रेप्सुना aphalaprepsunā | by one who does not desire the fruit a (not) + phala (fruit) + prepsunā (desiring) |
| कर्म karma | action |
| यत् yat | which |
| तत् tat | that |
| सात्त्विकम् sāttvikam | sattvic |
| उच्यते ucyate | is said |
Word-wise Chanting
- ni–ya–taṃ saṅ–ga–ra–hi–tam– 8 syllables ni-ya-tam san-ga-ra-hi-tam-
- a–rā–gad–ve–ṣa–taḥ kṛ–tam | 8 syllables a-raa-gad-ve-sha-tah kri-tam
- a–pha–lap–rep–su–nā kar–ma 8 syllables a-pha-lap-rep-su-naa kar-ma
- yat–tat–sāt–tvi–ka–muc–ya–te || 18-23 8 syllables yat-tat-saat-tvi-ka-much-ya-te
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 18 Verse 23
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of action (18.23–18.25).
Meaning
Sāttvika karma is niyata, appropriate duty; saṅga-rahita, free from attachment; done without rāga or dveṣa, attraction or aversion; and by one who does not seek its phala, fruit.
This summarises karma yoga in one verse: right duty, done without attachment, preference or desire for results.
In Practice
Choose one task today and do it in the sattvic way: as duty, without attachment or preference.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Liberation and Renunciation). 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.