Kaaryam ity eva yat karma niyatam kriyate Arjuna | Sangam tyaktvaa phalam chaiva sa tyaagah saattviko matah ||9||
Translation
O Arjuna, when prescribed duty is performed simply because it ought to be done, giving up all attachment and desire for the fruit — that renunciation is considered sattvic.
Word-by-Word Meaning
कार्यम्
as duty
इति
thus
एव
certainly
यत्
which
कर्म
action
नियतम्
prescribed
क्रियते
is performed
अर्जुन
O Arjuna
सङ्गम्
attachment
त्यक्त्वा
giving up
फलम्
the fruit
च
and
एव
certainly
सः
that
त्यागः
renunciation
सात्त्विकः
in the mode of goodness
मतः
is considered
Commentary
Commentary
This verse describes the highest and most authentic form of renunciation — sattvic tyaga. A person who performs prescribed duties simply because they are the right thing to do, without attachment to the action and without craving the results, has truly understood renunciation.
The phrase kaaryam iti eva — “because it ought to be done” — captures the essence beautifully. The motivation is not desire for reward, not fear of punishment, not social expectation. It is simply the recognition that this is one’s duty, and duty must be performed.
When a person acts in Krishna consciousness, working as an offering to the Lord, the action is naturally performed without attachment. Such a worker does not worry whether the results will be favorable or unfavorable. The work is done at the divine level — it transcends selfish calculation entirely.
This is the Gita’s consistent teaching from the very beginning. In Chapter 2, Krishna taught: “You have a right to action alone, never to its fruits” (karmanye vadhikaraste). Here in Chapter 18, the same teaching returns in its most refined form. Sattvic renunciation is not the absence of action — it is the presence of right action performed with the right spirit.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does Bhagavad Gita 18.9 mean?
- O Arjuna, when prescribed duty is performed simply because it ought to be done, giving up all attachment and desire for the fruit — that renunciation is considered sattvic.
- What is the Sanskrit text of Bhagavad Gita 18.9?
- The original Sanskrit verse is: Kaaryam ity eva yat karma niyatam kriyate Arjuna | Sangam tyaktvaa phalam chaiva sa tyaagah saattviko matah ||9||
- What are the key themes of this verse?
- This verse explores: sattvic renunciation, duty, detachment, goodness, liberation.