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Bhagavad Gita · 18.26 · Yoga through the Perfection of Renunciation and Surrender·26 of 78

मुक्तसङ्गोऽनहंवादी धृत्युत्साहसमन्वितःसिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योर्निर्विकारः कर्ता सात्त्विक उच्यते

mukta-saṅgo ‘nahaṁ-vādī dhṛity-utsāha-samanvitaḥ

siddhy-asiddhyor nirvikāraḥ kartā sāttvika uchyate

Sanskrit recitation

What makes an action · 18.13–18.28 · Teaching

Translation

An agent who is free from attachment, non-egoistic, endowed with firmness and enthusiasm, and unaffected by success or failure, is considered to be of a Sattvic (pure) nature.

Meaning

A pure agent does his actions with his whole heart without feeling proud at the performance. He looks for the proper time and place and in accordance with the behests of the scriptures determines whether such actions are worth doing or not. He develops courage and a powerful will. He never seeks physical comforts. He is ite prepared to sacrifice his life for a noble cause. He is neither elated by success nor grieved by failure. He always keeps a balanced mind when he does any action. O Arjuna, that man is a pure agent who, while working, exhibits such alities.Siddhi Success attainment of the fruit of action performed.Nirvikarah Unaffected as having been urged to act merely by the authority of the scriptures, not by a desire for the sake of the reward.Now I will tell thee, O Arjuna, of the characteristics of a passionate agent.

After Swami Sivananda

What makes an action· 18.13–18.28

Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.

Word-by-word
kartā
worker
uchyate
is said to be
utsāha
zeal
dhṛiti
strong resolve
samanvitaḥ
endowed with
sāttvikaḥ
in the mode of goodness
anaham-vādī
free from ego
nirvikāraḥ
unaffected
mukta-saṅgaḥ
free from worldly attachment
siddhi-asiddhyoḥ
in success and failure

Related verses

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