Shloka 23
भीष्मविक्रमदर्शनं तथा क्रौञ्चारुणव्यूहविधानम् | Bhīṣma’s Ascendancy and the Organization of the Krauñcāruṇa Formation
परंतु जो ज्ञान एक कार्यरूप शरीरमें ही सम्पूर्णके सदूृश आसक्त है तथा जो बिना युक्तिवाला, तात्विक अर्थसे रहित और तुच्छ है, वह तामस कहा गया हैः ।। नियतं४ सड़रहितमरागद्वेषत:" कृतम् | अफललप्रेप्सुना कर्म यत्तत् सात््विकमुच्यते,जो कर्म शास्त्रविधिसे नियत किया हुआ और कर्तापनके अभिमानसे रहित हो तथा फल न चाहनेवाले पुरुषद्वारा बिना राग-द्वेषके किया गया हो*--वह सात्त्विक कहा जाता है?
niyataṁ saṅgarahitam arāgadveṣataḥ kṛtam | aphalaprepsunā karma yat tat sāttvikam ucyate ||
A deed is called sāttvika when it is performed as a duty prescribed by śāstra, without attachment, without the ego of doership, free from both attraction and aversion, and by one who does not seek any personal reward. Ethically, it defines right action as disciplined, impartial, and duty-centered rather than driven by desire, hatred, or self-interest.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sāttvika action is duty performed according to śāstra, without attachment, without egoistic doership, and without craving for results—remaining even-minded beyond personal likes and dislikes.
In the Bhīṣma Parva’s ethical instruction on the guṇas, the speaker defines the hallmark of sāttvika karma, contrasting it with lower-quality action driven by attachment, aversion, or fruit-seeking.