Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 23

Guṇa-vibhāga: The Three Modes and the Path Beyond Them

Devanagari script

मदर्पणं निष्फलं वा सात्त्विकं निजकर्म तत् । राजसं फलसङ्कल्पं हिंसाप्रायादि तामसम् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

mad-arpaṇaṁ niṣphalaṁ vā sāttvikaṁ nija-karma tat rājasaṁ phala-saṅkalpaṁ hiṁsā-prāyādi tāmasam

Translation

การกระทำที่ถวายแด่เราโดยไม่คำนึงถึงผลตอบแทน ถือเป็นกรรมในคุณแห่งความดี (สัตตวะ) การกระทำที่ทำด้วยความปรารถนาจะเสวยผลเป็นกรรมในคุณแห่งความหลงใหล (รยะ) และการกระทำที่ขับเคลื่อนด้วยความรุนแรงและความริษยาเป็นกรรมในคุณแห่งความมืดบอด (ตมะ)

Synonyms

• मत्-अर्पणम्: offering to me
• मत्-अर्पणम्: Visheshya-bhava (विशेष्यभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'offering to me'

• निष्फलम्: without fruit
• निष्फलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; adjective qualifying (कर्म)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), alternative

• सात्त्विकम्: sattvic
• सात्त्विकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सात्त्विक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; predicate adjective

• निजकर्म: one’s own action
• निजकर्म: Visheshya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज-कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; karmadhāraya: 'one's own action'

• तत्: that
• तत्: Anuvada (अनुवाद/सर्वनाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; demonstrative pronoun referring to 'that (karma)'

• राजसम्: rajasic
• राजसम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; predicate adjective

• फलसङ्कल्पम्: aiming at results
• फलसङ्कल्पम्: Hetu/Prayojana (हेतु/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल-सङ्कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'intention for fruit/result'

• हिंसाप्रायादि: mostly violent, etc.
• हिंसाप्रायादि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिंसा-प्राय-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; compound: हिंसा (violence) + प्राय (mostly) + आदि (etc.) meaning 'mostly violent and so on'

• तामसम्: tamasic
• तामसम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तामस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; predicate adjective

Purport

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.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic work?

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.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in the 11th Canto?

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.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

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.