Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga Shloka 11 - Bhagavad Gita | German | Vedapath

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Bhagavad Gita — Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga, Shloka 11

Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga

Devanagari script

अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते । यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः ॥ १७.११ ॥

Transliteration

aphalākāṅkṣibhir yajño vidhidṛṣṭo ya ijyate | yaṣṭavyam eveti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ || 17.11 ||

Translation

Das Opfer (yajña), das von Frucht-Unbegehrenden gemäß der in den Schriften erkannten Vorschrift dargebracht wird, mit dem Geist gefestigt in der Haltung: „Opfern ist allein Pflicht“—das ist sattvisch.

Gita Press Meaning

जो यज्ञ फल न चाहने वाले पुरुषों के द्वारा शास्त्रविधि से किया जाता है और मन को ‘यज्ञ करना ही कर्तव्य है’—इस प्रकार स्थिर करके किया जाता है, वह सात्त्विक है।

Critical Edition Meaning

That sacrifice is sattvic which is performed according to prescribed rule by those not desiring reward, with the mind settled on the conviction: ‘it is to be done’ (as a duty).

Comparative Note

Traditional translations often emphasize ‘scriptural injunction’ (vidhi) and ‘duty’ (kartavya). Academic readings note the deontic stance—action done because it ought to be done—aligning with niṣkāma orientation.

Word by Word

अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिःby those who desire no fruit

यज्ञःthe sacrifice

विधिदृष्टःenjoined by rule (seen in scripture)

यःwhich

इज्यतेis performed / is worshipped (as a sacrifice)

यष्टव्यम्to be performed (ought to be sacrificed)

एवindeed / only

इतिthus (quotative)

मनःthe mind

समाधायhaving fixed / having composed

सःthat (sacrifice) / it

सात्त्विकःsattvic (of the nature of sattva)

Speakers

Krishna

Primary Concepts

YajñaNiṣkāma karmaSattva-guṇaVidhi (normative rule)

Key Themes

Duty-oriented actionPurification of intentionRitual as ethical disciplineStability of mind

FAQs

Psychological significance?

It highlights motivation: practices performed without reward-seeking and with steady resolve tend to reduce anxiety about outcomes and support mental composure.

Metaphysical meaning?

As an expression of sattva, the act aligns with clarity and order; it models action within prakṛti that becomes less binding when not appropriated by craving for results.

Contextual relevance?

After classifying diets, the text applies the same threefold guṇa lens to sacrifice, specifying the sattvic form first.

Modern Application?

It can inform secular ethics: performing civic, professional, or familial duties conscientiously without excessive fixation on recognition or payoff.