In Bhagavad Gita 18.9, Krishna says when obligatory action is done because it ought to be done, giving up attachment and fruit, that relinquishment is sattvic.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
कार्यमित्येव यत्कर्म
नियतं क्रियतेऽर्जुन
सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलं चैव
स त्यागः सात्त्विको मतः ॥ १८-९ ॥
kāryamityeva yatkarma
niyataṃ kriyate’rjuna
saṅgaṃ tyaktvā phalaṃ caiva
sa tyāgaḥ sāttviko mataḥ
English transliteration kaaryamityeva yatkarma
niyatam kriyate’rjuna
sangam tyaktvaa phalam chaiva
sa tyaagah saattviko matah ॥ 18.9 ॥
Translation / Meaning
When obligatory action is performed simply because it ought to be done, O Arjuna, giving up attachment and also the fruit, that relinquishment is regarded as sattvic.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| कार्यम् kāryam | ought to be done |
| इति iti | thus |
| एव eva | simply |
| यत् yat | which |
| कर्म karma | action |
| नियतम् niyatam | obligatory |
| क्रियते kriyate | is performed |
| अर्जुन arjuna | O Arjuna |
| सङ्गम् saṅgam | attachment |
| त्यक्त्वा tyaktvā | giving up |
| फलम् phalam | fruit |
| च ca | and |
| एव eva | also |
| सः saḥ | that |
| त्यागः tyāgaḥ | relinquishment |
| सात्त्विकः sāttvikaḥ | sattvic |
| मतः mataḥ | is regarded |
Word-wise Chanting
- kār–ya–mit–ye–va yat–kar–ma 8 syllables kaar-ya-mit-ye-va yat-kar-ma
- ni–ya–taṃ kri–ya–te–‘rju–na | 8 syllables ni-ya-tam kri-ya-te-‘rju-na
- saṅ–gaṃ tyak–tvā pha–laṃ cai–va 8 syllables san-gam tyak-tvaa pha-lam chai-va
- sa tyā–gaḥ sāt–tvi–ko ma–taḥ || 18-9 8 syllables sa tyaa-gah saat-tvi-ko ma-tah
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 9
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of relinquishment (18.7–18.9).
Meaning
Sāttvika tyāga is doing one’s duty kāryam iti, because it is right, while giving up saṅga, attachment, and phala, desire for results. The action continues; the selfishness is relinquished.
This is the Gita’s ideal of renunciation: full engagement in action with inner freedom from ego and results.
In Practice
Do your work today “because it ought to be done”, releasing attachment to praise or outcome.
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.