Bhagavad Gita BG 18.9
Chapter 18, Verse 9 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
कार्यमित्येव यत्कर्म नियतं क्रियतेऽर्जुन । सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलं चैव स त्यागः सात्त्विको मतः ॥
karyam ity eva yat karma niyatam kriyate 'rjuna sangam tyaktva phalam caiva sa tyagah sattviko matah
Meaning
O Arjuna, whatever obligatory action is performed simply because it ought to be done (karyam iti eva), abandoning attachment (sanga) and also fruit (phala) — that renunciation is considered sattvic.
Understanding
Sattvic tyaga is defined by a three-element formula: (1) Karyam iti eva (simply because it ought to be done — the sole motivation is duty. 'It is what should be done, therefore I do it.' No personal agenda, no calculation, no avoidance). (2) Niyatam kriyate (the obligatory action is performed — it is not abandoned, not avoided. This directly counters both tamasic and rajasic tyaga). (3) Sangam tyaktva phalam caiva (having abandoned attachment AND fruit). The sattvic renouncer is fully engaged in action AND fully free of all claim on its outcome. This is the culmination of the Gita's karma yoga teaching: 'karyam iti' as the entire inner orientation. Not 'I want to help' (self-oriented), not 'I am afraid of the consequences' (fear-oriented), but simply: this is what should be done.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| कार्यम् | karyam | it is to be done, it is what ought to be done (obligation/duty form) |
| इत्येव | ity eva | simply because (this reason alone — 'thus alone, just this') |
| नियतम् | niyatam | obligatory, prescribed, fixed as duty |
| सङ्गम् त्यक्त्वा | sangam tyaktva | having abandoned attachment/clinging |
| सात्त्विकः मतः | sattvikah matah | is considered/held to be sattvic |
| कार्यम् | kāryam iti eva | "it must be done" — thinking thus |
| यत् | yat | which |
| कर्म | karma | action |
| क्रियते | kriyate | is performed |
| अर्जुन | arjuna | O Arjuna |
| सङ्गम् | saṅgam | attachment |
| त्यक्त्वा | tyaktvā | abandoning |
| फलम् | phalam ca eva | and result also |
| सः | saḥ | that |
| त्यागः | tyāgaḥ | renunciation |
| सात्त्विकः | sāttvikaḥ | in goodness |
| मतः | mataḥ | is considered |
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