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Bhagavad-gītā 17.11

अफलाकाङ्‌‍क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदिष्टो य इज्यते । यष्टव्यमेवेति मन: समाधाय स सात्त्विक: ॥ ११ ॥
aphalākāṅkṣibhir yajño
[aphalaakaankshibhir yajno]
vidhi-diṣṭo ya ijyate
[vidhi-dishto ya ijyate]
yaṣṭavyam eveti manaḥ
[yashtavyam eveti manah]
samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ
[samaadhaaya sa saattvikah]
Word-for-word
aphala - ākāṅkṣibhiḥ — by those devoid of desire for result yajñaḥ — sacrifice vidhi - diṣṭaḥ — according to the direction of scripture yaḥ — which ijyate — is performed yaṣṭavyam — must be performed eva — certainly iti — thus manaḥ — mind samādhāya — fixing saḥ — it sāttvikaḥ — in the mode of goodness .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
aphalākāṅkṣibhir yajño
aphala - ākāṅkṣibhiḥ
by those devoid of desire for result
yajñaḥ
sacrifice
vidhi-diṣṭo ya ijyate
vidhi - diṣṭaḥ
according to the direction of scripture
yaḥ
which
ijyate
is performed
yaṣṭavyam eveti manaḥ
yaṣṭavyam
must be performed
eva
certainly
iti
thus
manaḥ
mind
samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ
samādhāya
fixing
saḥ
it
sāttvikaḥ
in the mode of goodness .
Important Words
  • aphala - ākāṅkṣibhiḥ — by those devoid of desire for result
    Compound: a- (not) + phala (fruit) + ākāṅkṣin (one who longs for). The hinge condition. Sattvic sacrifice is not defined by what is offered but by what is *not* expected back. Same fire, same mantras — but if phala-ākāṅkṣā enters, the mode shifts.
  • vidhi - diṣṭaḥ — according to the direction of scripture
    Compound: vidhi (rule) + diṣṭa (pointed out, prescribed). The second condition. Sattva requires not just renunciation but obedience — sacrifice performed where śāstra has pointed.
  • yaṣṭavyam — must be performed
    Future passive participle of √yaj — 'that which is to be sacrificed/done.' Combined in the verse with eva, it becomes the karma-yoga sūtra: 'simply to be done.' The whole detachment teaching compressed into one word — duty as duty, no further justification sought.
  • samādhāya — fixing
    Gerund from sam + ā + √dhā — to place together, to compose. The same root as samādhi. The verse uses it with manaḥ: the mind must be 'composed.' Sāttvika-yajña requires not just bodily correctness and renounced desire but the mind's collected fixity.
  • sāttvikaḥ — in the mode of goodness
    The masculine form here qualifies yajñaḥ (sacrifice). Note the chapter's careful grammar: when a sacrifice is sāttvika, the word takes masculine; when austerity is sāttvika, it takes neuter (sāttvikam). The classification follows the noun, not the mode.
Of sacrifices, the sacrifice performed according to the directions of scripture, as a matter of duty, by those who desire no reward, is of the nature of goodness.
Classical Sanskrit analysis शास्त्रीय विश्लेषण
How Sanskrit scholars read this verse — split, rearranged, grammar-tagged. For the plain English distilled meaning, jump to Plain meaning below.
Auto-generated study layers — original analysis of the public-domain śloka. Review against a published edition for academic work.
Plain meaning (तात्पर्य · Tātparya)
The sāttvika yajña is defined by three coordinates: agentless wanting (no eye on phala), scriptural orthodoxy (vidhi-diṣṭa), and the disposition that the act itself is its own warrant (yaṣṭavyam eveti). When duty alone, anchored by śāstra, holds the mind, the offering is pure.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
This verse is a precise restatement of niṣkāma-karma (cf. 2.47, 3.9) applied to formal yajña. Yaṣṭavyam eveti — the absolutive 'it just is to be done' — is the practical operating-stance of karma-yoga. Manaḥ samādhāya links yajña to dhyāna: even external ritual demands inner gathering. Together with vv. 24-28 this verse defines orthodox liturgy.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
यः यज्ञः अफल-आकाङ्क्षिभिः (नरैः) 'यष्टव्यम् एव' इति मनः समाधाय विधि-दिष्टः (सन्) इज्यते, सः सात्त्विकः ।
yaḥ yajñaḥ aphala-ākāṅkṣibhiḥ (naraiḥ) 'yaṣṭavyam eva' iti manaḥ samādhāya vidhi-diṣṭaḥ (san) ijyate, saḥ sāttvikaḥ |
The sacrifice that is performed by those who do not crave its fruit, fixing the mind with the conviction 'it ought simply to be offered,' according to scriptural injunction — that one is sāttvika.
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
अफल-आकाङ्क्षिभिः यज्ञः विधि-दिष्टः यः इज्यते । यष्टव्यम् एव इति मनः समाधाय सः सात्त्विकः ॥
aphala-ākāṅkṣibhiḥ yajñaḥ vidhi-diṣṭaḥ yaḥ ijyate | yaṣṭavyam eva iti manaḥ samādhāya saḥ sāttvikaḥ ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
अफल-आकाङ्क्षिभिः aphala-ākāṅkṣibhiḥ अ- + फल (n.) + आकाङ्क्षिन् (adj.) ins.pl. (instrumental plural)m., tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound) by those not desiring fruit
यज्ञः yajñaḥ यज्ञ (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) sacrifice
विधि-दिष्टः vidhi-diṣṭaḥ विधि (m.) + दिष्ट p.p.p. (past passive participle) nom.sg. (nominative singular)m., tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound) prescribed by scriptural injunction
यः yaḥ यद् (rel. pron. (pronoun)) nom.sg. (nominative singular)m. which
इज्यते ijyate √यज् pass. (passive) pres. (present) 3sg. is performed/offered
यष्टव्यम् yaṣṭavyam √यज् gerundive (kṛtya) nom.sg. (nominative singular)n. ought to be offered
एव eva ind. (indeclinable), emphatic simply, just
इति iti ind. (indeclinable), quotative thus, with this conviction
मनः manaḥ मनस् (n.) acc.sg. (accusative singular) the mind
समाधाय samādhāya सम् + आ + √धा abs. (absolutive) having fixed/settled
सः saḥ तद् (dem. (demonstrative) pron. (pronoun)) nom.sg. (nominative singular)m. that
सात्त्विकः sāttvikaḥ सात्त्विक (adj.) nom.sg. (nominative singular)m. of the mode of goodness
Purport

The general tendency is to offer sacrifice with some purpose in mind, but here it is stated that sacrifice should be performed without any such desire. It should be done as a matter of duty. Take, for example, the performance of rituals in temples or in churches. Generally they are performed with the purpose of material benefit, but that is not in the mode of goodness. One should go to a temple or church as a matter of duty, offer respect to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and offer flowers and eatables without any purpose of obtaining material benefit. Everyone thinks that there is no use in going to the temple just to worship God. But worship for economic benefit is not recommended in the scriptural injunctions. One should go simply to offer respect to the Deity. That will place one in the mode of goodness. It is the duty of every civilized man to obey the injunctions of the scriptures and offer respect to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
11. That sacrifice which is performed according to scripture, without desire for material results, with the mentality that it should be performed because of scriptural injunction, is sattvic.
Commentary

With this verse the Lord begins to speak of the three types of sacrifice. That is sattvic sacrifice which is performed according to the rules, with no desire for results. What would be the impetus for sacrifice if there were no desire for results? The mind is fixed in performing the sacrifice with the idea that it should be done because the scriptures prescribe it thus (yaṣṭavyam eva iti).

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
11. That sacrifice which is performed according to scripture, without desire for material results, with the mentality that it should be performed because of scriptural injunction is sāttvika.
Commentary

The Lord then speaks of three varieties of sacrifice in three verses. That sacrifice which is performed (ījyate) without desire for results, arising from the rules of scripture (vidhi dṛṣṭaḥ) is sacrifice in the mode of goodness. But how would one be inspired to do a sacrifice without some motive? One should concentrate the mind (samādhāya), thinking “This sacifice should be done because of instructions in the Vedas (yaṣṭavaym) directed to me. It is not to be done for achieving results.”

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

Sacrifice in the mode of goodness

According to directions of scripture
As a matter of duty
e.g. To go to temple/church as a duty and not for economic benefit
Duty of every civilized man
To obey scriptural injunctions
To offer respect to Supreme Personality of Godhead
Desire no reward
General tendency is to offer with a purpose in mind
Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
17.11 Sah, that; yajnah, sacrifice; vidhi-drstah, which is in accordance with the injunctions, which is known through scriptural unjunctions; (and) yah, which; is ijyate, performed; a-phala-akanksibhih, by persons who do not hanker after results; manah samadhaya, with the mental conviction; iti, that; yastavyam, eva, it is surely obligatory, their duty is to accomplish the sacrifice just as it should be-with the firm idea, 'I have no human goal to achieve through this'-; is said to be a sacrifice which is sattvikah, done through sattva.
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
17.11 That sacrifice is marked by Sattva which is offered by those desiring no fruits, with the 'conviction', i.e., with the idea that it ought to be performed or that it should be offered for its own sake as worship of the Lord as enjoined in the injunctions of the Sastras, i.e., with hymns, right materials and proper rituals.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
17.11 See Comment under 17.13
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
17.11 That sacrifice which is offered by men without desire for reward as enjoined by the ordinance (scripture), with a firm faith that to do so is a duty, is Sattvic or pure.
Commentary

17.11 अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिः by men desiring no fruit? यज्ञः sacrifice? विधिदृष्टः as enjoined by the ordinance? यः which? इज्यते is offered? यष्टव्यम् ought to be offered? एव only? इति thus? मनः the mind? समाधाय having fixed? सः that? सात्त्विकः Sattvic or pure.Commentary When a sacrifice is done with all due Sattvic rites? faith and devotion? without the least taint of desire for reward? with the mind fixed on the sacrifice only? for its own sake (for the,sake of discharging the duty only)? then it is said to be pure in its nature. Here the sacrifice is done in a disinterested spirit or with an attitude of desirelessness (Nishkamya Bhava) as an auxiliary to the attainment of the knowledge of the Self. Such selfless and desireless actions purify the mind and prepare the aspirant for the reception of divine light or knowledge of the Self. The Sattvic nature of a man forces him to do such selfless and desireless sacrifices. He does not care even for his own emancipation. He performs them with the firm belief that they ought to be done. He does them with the firm resolve that sacrifice is a duty.Yajna here is not limited to the ceremonial sacrifice. It is used in a broad sense. Any unselfish action done without attachment? without agency or egoism and without expectation of reward? as an offering unto the Lord? is a Yajna or sacrifice.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
17.11 That sacrifice which is in accordance with the injunctions, (and is) performed by persons who do not hanker after results, and with the mental conviction that it is surely obligatory, is done through sattva.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
17.11 Sacrifice is Pure when it is offered by one who does not covet the fruit thereof, when it is done according to the commands of scripture, and with implicit faith that the sacrifice is a duty.
Related values & verses
Related values
Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Nyaya (Justice / Righteous Judgment)Shraddha (Faith / Reverence)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Adambhitva (Non-hypocrisy / Authenticity)Bhakti (Devotion)Brahmacharya (Self-discipline / Restraint)Vairagya (Detachment / Dispassion)Vinaya (Humility / Modesty)
Related verses
BG 3.9 BG 4.31 BG 18.23 SB 4.7.32 SB 4.21.30 SB 3.9.41 CC Ādi 3.77 CC Madhya 22.129 CC Ādi 17.22 Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 1.2.1Īśa Upaniṣad 2
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Sacrifice is sattvic when performed according to scripture, as a duty, by those who desire no reward — without expectation.
Practical Applications
  • Treat your sacrifices (worship, service) as duty without reward expectation.
  • Honor scripture's specifications.
  • Refuse the bargain mode.
Reflection Questions
  • Where has my worship slipped into bargaining?
  • What restores duty-without-reward?
Analogy

Sattvic yajña is like a tree planted not for its shade but because the tree is dharmic to plant. The shade comes — or does not — and the planter is unmoved. The act stands on its own duty-feet, asking nothing back from the soil.

Stories
Yudhiṣṭhira's Rājasūya

After becoming emperor, Yudhiṣṭhira performed the Rājasūya sacrifice not for fame, not to consolidate power, but because Kṛṣṇa and Vyāsa instructed it as the proper duty of his station. He performed it strictly according to vidhi, with Kṛṣṇa Himself attending — and Yudhiṣṭhira's mind was so fixed on duty rather than reward that he gave away the kingdom's wealth without flinching.

Mahābhārata records that Yudhiṣṭhira treated the sacrifice as yaṣṭavyam eva — 'this is simply to be performed' — exactly the phrase Kṛṣṇa uses in this verse. It became the canonical example of sāttvika-yajña.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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