Chapter 17, Verse 11
अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते | यष्टव्यमेवेति मन: समाधाय स सात्विक: ॥11॥
aphalākāṅkṣhibhir yajño vidhi-driṣhṭo ya ijyate | yaṣhṭavyam evaiti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ
"That sacrifice which is in accordance with the injunctions, (and is) performed by persons who do not hanker after results, and with the mental conviction that it is surely obligatory, is done through sattva."
Key Insight:
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 17.11 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 17.11 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
Detailed Meaning
A Sattvic sacrifice (Yajña) is defined by three pillars: (1) Absence of desire for personal reward (aphala-ākāṅkṣhibhiḥ), (2) Adherence to ethical and scriptural guidelines (vidhi-driṣhṭaḥ), and (3) A firm inner resolve that the act is an inherent duty (yaṣhṭavyam). It is the purity of intent combined with the discipline of method.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core message of Gita 17.11?
That sacrifice which is in accordance with the injunctions, (and is) performed by persons who do not hanker after results, and with the mental conviction that it is surely obligatory, is done through sattva.