Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 23
Guṇa-vibhāga: The Three Modes and the Path Beyond Them
मदर्पणं निष्फलं वा सात्त्विकं निजकर्म तत् । राजसं फलसङ्कल्पं हिंसाप्रायादि तामसम् ॥ २३ ॥
mad-arpaṇaṁ niṣphalaṁ vā sāttvikaṁ nija-karma tat rājasaṁ phala-saṅkalpaṁ hiṁsā-prāyādi tāmasam
L'action accomplie en offrande à Moi, sans considération du fruit, est considérée comme étant dans le mode de la vertu. L'action accomplie avec le désir de jouir des résultats est dans le mode de la passion. Et l'action poussée par la violence et l'envie est dans le mode de l'ignorance.
Ordinary work performed as an offering to God, without desire for the result, is understood to be in the mode of goodness, whereas activities of devotion — such as chanting and hearing the glories of the Lord — are transcendental forms of work beyond the modes of nature.
FAQs
In this verse, Kṛṣṇa explains that work offered to Him or done without desire for reward is sāttvika; work driven by expectation of results is rājasa; and work dominated by violence and similar tendencies is tāmasa.
Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on how to purify one’s actions and consciousness through understanding the guṇas, guiding him toward devotion and liberation as part of the Uddhava-gītā teachings.
Do your responsibilities as an offering to God, reduce obsession with outcomes, and avoid harmful or exploitative actions—this shifts daily work toward goodness and supports steady bhakti.