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Bhagavad-gītā 18.9

कार्यमित्येव यत्कर्म नियतं क्रियतेऽर्जुन । सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलं चैव स त्याग: सात्त्विको मत: ॥ ९ ॥
kāryam ity eva yat karma
[kaaryam ity eva yat karma]
niyataṁ kriyate ’rjuna
[niyatam kriyate ’rjuna]
saṅgaṁ tyaktvā phalaṁ caiva
[sangam tyaktvaa phalam chaiva]
sa tyāgaḥ sāttviko mataḥ
[sa tyaagah saattviko matah]
kāryam — it must be done iti — thus eva — indeed yat — which karma — work niyatam — prescribed kriyate — is performed arjuna — O Arjuna saṅgam — association tyaktvā — giving up phalam — the result ca — also eva — certainly saḥ — that tyāgaḥ — renunciation sāttvikaḥ — in the mode of goodness mataḥ — in My opinion .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
kāryam ity eva yat karma
kāryam
it must be done
iti
thus
eva
indeed
yat
which
karma
work
niyataṁ kriyate ’rjuna
niyatam
prescribed
kriyate
is performed
arjuna
O Arjuna
saṅgaṁ tyaktvā phalaṁ caiva
saṅgam
association
tyaktvā
giving up
phalam
the result
ca
also
eva
certainly
sa tyāgaḥ sāttviko mataḥ
saḥ
that
tyāgaḥ
renunciation
sāttvikaḥ
in the mode of goodness
mataḥ
in My opinion .
  • kāryam — it is to be done
    Gerundive of pure obligation. Not 'because I will benefit' or 'because I will suffer if I don't' — simply because it is the right thing. The motive collapses to bare duty.
  • niyatam — prescribed
    Echoes verse 7. The action is the same one that the tāmasa-renouncer abandons; here it is performed but emptied of saṅga and phala. Same act, opposite mode.
  • saṅgam — attachment
    The literal target of renunciation in the phrase saṅgam tyaktvā. Not the work and not the result — the *attachment* to both is what is dropped. The Gītā's surgical instrument applied again.
  • sāttvikaḥ — in the mode of goodness
    The destination of the three-fold analysis. This is the renunciation Kṛṣṇa wants Arjuna to enact — and through Arjuna, the reader.
  • mataḥ — is held (in My opinion)
    The verse closes with mataḥ — 'is My settled view.' Even after the formal classification, Kṛṣṇa reasserts the personal stamp. This is not abstract philosophy; it is the Lord's own judgment.
O Arjuna, when one performs his prescribed duty only because it ought to be done, and renounces all material association and all attachment to the fruit, his renunciation is said to be in the mode of goodness.
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)
True (sāttvika) tyāga: do the duty because it must be done, internally letting go of both clinging and the result. The act is kept; the appropriative grip is dropped.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
This verse crystallizes the operative formula of v. 6 into a definition: niyata-karma + 'kāryam iti' attitude + saṅga-tyāga + phala-tyāga = sāttvika-tyāga. Note the passive 'kriyate' — the sāttvika renouncer experiences action almost as something that flows through him, not as ego-driven doing. Cf. 3.19, 4.20.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
हे अर्जुन! यत् नियतं कर्म कार्यम् इति एव सङ्गं फलं च त्यक्त्वा क्रियते, सः त्यागः सात्त्विकः मतः ।
he arjuna! yat niyataṃ karma kāryam iti eva saṅgaṃ phalaṃ ca tyaktvā kriyate, saḥ tyāgaḥ sāttvikaḥ mataḥ |
O Arjuna, when a prescribed action is performed merely as a duty to be done, with attachment and fruit abandoned — that renunciation is regarded as sāttvika.
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
कार्यम् इति एव यत् कर्म नियतं क्रियते अर्जुन । सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलं च एव सः त्यागः सात्त्विकः मतः ॥
kāryam iti eva yat karma niyataṃ kriyate arjuna | saṅgaṃ tyaktvā phalaṃ ca eva saḥ tyāgaḥ sāttvikaḥ mataḥ ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
कार्यम् kāryam √कृ gerundive nom.sg. (nominative singular)n. to be done
इति iti ind. (indeclinable) thus
एव eva ind. (indeclinable) only
यत् yat यद् (pron. (pronoun)) nom.sg. (nominative singular)n. which
कर्म karma कर्मन् (n.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) action
नियतम् niyatam नि + √यम् p.p.p. (past passive participle) nom.sg. (nominative singular)n. prescribed
क्रियते kriyate √कृ pres. (present)pass. (passive) 3sg. is performed
अर्जुन arjuna अर्जुन (m.) voc.sg. (vocative singular) O Arjuna
सङ्गम् saṅgam सङ्ग (m.) acc.sg. (accusative singular) attachment
त्यक्त्वा tyaktvā √त्यज् abs. (absolutive) having abandoned
फलम् phalam फल (n.) acc.sg. (accusative singular) fruit
सः saḥ तद् (pron. (pronoun)) nom.sg. (nominative singular)m. that
त्यागः tyāgaḥ त्याग (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) renunciation
सात्त्विकः sāttvikaḥ सात्त्विक (adj.) nom.sg. (nominative singular)m. sāttvika
मतः mataḥ √मन् p.p.p. (past passive participle) nom.sg. (nominative singular)m. considered

Prescribed duties must be performed with this mentality. One should act without attachment for the result; he should be disassociated from the modes of work. A man working in Kṛṣṇa consciousness in a factory does not associate himself with the work of the factory, nor with the workers of the factory. He simply works for Kṛṣṇa. And when he gives up the result for Kṛṣṇa, he is acting transcendentally.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
9. O Arjuna, that tyāga in which obligatory actions are performed out of duty, without sense of doership and desire for results, is considered tyāga in the mode of sattva.
Commentary

Performing the nitya-karma (niyataṁ karma) thinking “this should be done” while rejecting doership and desired results is called sattvic tyāga. It is understood here that the result of renouncing the fruits and not renouncing the action in this sattvic tyāga is knowledge.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
9. O Arjuna, that tyāga in which obligatory actions are performed out of duty without sense of doership and desire for results is considered tyāga in the mode of sattva.
Commentary

As much as prescribed actions are done daily with the idea that they should be done (kāryam), they should be performed giving up identification as the doer (saṅgam) and giving up all the results (phalam). That type of renunciation is in the mode of goodness, since such awareness is in the mode of goodness.

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

This is what Krsna recommended in 8:6 when He said: "All these activities should be performed without attachment or any expectation of result. They should performed as a matter of duty, O son of Prtha, that is My opinion." And then Krsna, towards the end, describes the symptoms of one who renounced in goodness because this is what Krsna recommended: doing one's duty, externally and internally being detached.

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

Renunciation in the mode of goodness

Performing prescribed duty because it is ought to be done
Renouncing all material associations and all attachment to the fruit
Example: A man working in Krishna consciousness in a factory, does not associate himself with the work of the factory nor with the workers of the factory – Simply works for Krishna and gives the result to Krishna; thus situated on transcendental platform

LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 18.9 & 18.10:

Text 18.10 describes the symptoms of proper renunciation

Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
18.9 Yat, whatever; niyatam karma, daily obligatory duty; kriyate, is performed, accomplished; iti eva, just because; it is karyam, a bounden duty; O Arjuna, tyaktva, by giving up; sangam, attachment; and phalam, the result; ca eva, as well; sah, that; tyagah, renunciation, giving up of attachment and (hankering for) the resutls of daily obligatory duties; matah, is considered; to be sattvikah, based on sattva, arising from sattva. We said that the Lord's utterance is proof of the fruitfulness of daily obligatory duties. Or, even if the niyakarmas be understood (from the Lord's worlds) to be fruitless, still the ignorant man does certainly imagine that the nityakarmas (daily obligatory duites) when performed produce for oneself a result either in the form of purification of the mind or avoidance of evil. As to this, the Lord aborts even that imagination by saying, 'by giving up the result'. Hence it has been well said, 'by giving up attachment and the result'. Objection: Well, is not the threefold relinishment of actions, also called sannyasa, under discussion? As regards this, the renunciation based on tamas and rajas have been stated. Why is the relinishment of attachment and (desire for their) results spoken of here as the third? This is like somody saying, 'Three Brahmanas have come. Of them two are versed in the six auxiliaries [The six auxiliaries are: Siksa (Phonetics), Kalpa (Code of Rituals and Sacrifices), Vyakarana (Grammar), Nirukta (Etymology), Chandas (Meter, Prosody), and Jyotisa (Astronomy).-Tr.] of the Vedas; the third is a Ksatirya!' Reply: This is not wrong, for this is meant as a eulogy on the basis of the common factor of renunciation. Between renunciation of actions and renunciation. of hankering for results, there is, indeed, the similarity of the fact of renunciation. While on this subject, by condemning 'renunciation of actions' on account of its being based on rajas and tamas, the 'renunciation of desire for results of actions' is being praised on account of its being based on sattva, by saying, 'that renunciation is considered to be based on sattva.' The internal organ of a person who is alified for rites and duties, who performs the nityakarmas by giving up attachment and hankering for results, becomes pure on account of its being untainted by attachment to results etc. and refined by the nitya-karmas. When it is pure and tranil, it becomes capable of contemplating on the Self. Since, for that very person whose internal organ has become purified by performing the nityakarmas and who has become ready for the knowledge of the Self, the process by which he can become steadfast in it has to be stated, therefore the Lord says:
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
18.9 When rites like obligatory and occasional ceremonies and the great sacrifices enjoined on one's station and stage in life, are practised for their own sake, as worship of Myself and as a duty, relinishing possessiveness and fruits - such abandonment is regarded as Sattvika. It is noted in Sattva. The idea is that it is rooted in the knowledge of the meaning of the Sastras as it really is. That Sattva generates the knowledge of things as they really are, has been taught in: 'From Sattva arises knowledge' (14.17), and it will be further declared: 'That reason by which one knows action and renunciation, what ought to be done and what ought not to be done, fear and fearlessness, bondage and release, O Arjuna, is Sattvika' (18.30).
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
18.9 See Comment under 18.11
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
18.9 Whatever obligatory action is done, O Arjuna, merely because it ought to be done, abandoning attachment and also the desire for reward, that renunciation is regarded as Sattvic (pure).
Commentary

18.9 कार्यम् ought to be done? इति thus? एव even? यत् which? कर्म action? नियतम् obligatory? क्रियते is performed? अर्जुन O Arjuna? सङ्गम् attachment? त्यक्त्वा abandoning? फलम् fruit? च and? एव even? सः that? त्यागः abandonment? सात्त्विकः Sattvic (pure)? मतः is regarded.Commentary A man of pure nature performs actions that have fallen to his lot in accordance with his capacity and his inherent nature. He is not filled with the pride that he is the performer of such actions nor does he hope for any gain therefrom.An ignorant man may think that the obligatory duties may produce their fruits for the performer by causing selfpurification and preventing the sin of omission or nonperformance. This sort of thinking and expectation of rewards also must be abandoned. Abandonment of the rewards of actions is praised in this verse.When a man does obligatory duties without agency and with unselfishness and egolessness his,mind is purified? his Antahkarana is prepared for the reception of the divine light or the dawn of Selfknowledge. He gradually becomes fit for devotion to knowledge (JnanaNishtha).The aspirant or seeker after liberation should be prepared to undergo physical sufferings. All acts of selfdiscipline and selfsacrifice entail physical suffering.This? again? is the central teaching of the Gita -- do your duty without attachment and selfish desires.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
18.9 Whatever obligatory duty is performed just because it is a bounden duty, O Arjuna, by giving up attachment and the result as well,-that renunciation is considered to be based on sattva.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
18.9 He who performs an obligatory action, because he believes it to be a duty which ought to be done, without any personal desire to do the act or to receive any return - such renunciation is Pure.
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Abhaya (Fearlessness)
Related verses
Prescribed duty performed because it ought to be done, with attachment given up, and with no expectation of fruit — sattvic renunciation.
Practical Applications
  • Cultivate the sattvic formula: do duty because it must be done; release attachment and fruit.
  • Trust this formula.
  • Apply it consistently.
Reflection Questions
  • Where does this formula fit in my actual work?
  • What single act this week to test it?

A surgeon performs the operation because it must be done. He does not refuse out of squeamishness, nor does he linger to be admired for it. The scalpel moves with full skill; the credit and the consequences are left on the table. This is sāttvika-tyāga in one image.

Bharata Mahārāja's governance

Emperor Bharata — for whom Bhārata-varṣa is named — ruled the entire earth and performed every kingly duty because it was kāryam, simply that which must be done. He did not cling to the throne nor flee from it.

When the time came, he handed the kingdom to his sons and turned to bhakti. Duty performed because it ought to be performed; result and attachment both released. The Bhāgavatam holds him up as the very model of this verse.

📝 My note

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