Bhagavad Gita · Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga — The Three Kinds of Faith
Chapter 17, Verse 11
"Bhagavad Gita 17.11" — meaning and explanation.
अफलाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते | यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः
aphalāṅkṣibhiryajño vidhidṛṣṭo ya ijyate . yaṣṭavyameveti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ
Meaning
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.
।।17.11।। जो यज्ञ शास्त्रविधि से नियन्त्रित किया हुआ तथा जिसे "यह मेरा कर्तव्य है" ऐसा मन का समाधान (निश्चय) कर फल की आकांक्षा नहीं रखने वाले लोगों के द्वारा किया जाता है, वह यज्ञ सात्त्विक है।।
Explanation
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.
Life Lesson
Study Bhagavad Gita 17.11 slowly, then express its central teaching through one thoughtful action in daily life.
Context
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17, verse 11, from Krishna's dialogue with Arjuna at Kurukshetra.
Bhagavad Gita 17.11
This page presents the Sanskrit verse, transliteration, Hindi meaning, English meaning, and a simple explanation for study. For a fuller understanding, read this shloka in sequence with the rest of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 17.11 mean?
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.
What is the life lesson of this verse?
Study Bhagavad Gita 17.11 slowly, then express its central teaching through one thoughtful action in daily life.
What is the context of this verse?
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17, verse 11, from Krishna's dialogue with Arjuna at Kurukshetra.