Devanagari
मदर्पणं निष्फलं वा सात्त्विकं निजकर्म तत् ।
राजसं फलसङ्कल्पं हिंसाप्रायादि तामसम् ॥ २३ ॥
Verse text
mad-arpaṇaṁ niṣphalaṁ vā
sāttvikaṁ nija-karma tat
rājasaṁ phala-saṅkalpaṁ
hiṁsā-prāyādi tāmasam
Synonyms
mat
—
arpaṇam — offered unto Me
;
niṣphalam
—
done without expectation of result
;
vā
—
and
;
sāttvikam
—
in the mode of goodness
;
nija
—
accepted as one’s prescribed duty
;
karma
—
work
;
tat
—
that
;
rājasam
—
in the mode of passion
;
phala
—
saṅkalpam — done in expectation of some result
;
hiṁsā
—
prāya — ādi — done with violence, envy and so on
;
tāmasam
—
in the mode of ignorance .
Translation
Work performed as an offering to Me, without consideration of the fruit, is considered to be in the mode of goodness. Work performed with a desire to enjoy the results is in the mode of passion. And work impelled by violence and envy is in the mode of ignorance.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Prescribed duties performed as an offering to me, without consideration of the fruit, is considered to be in sattva. Prescribed actions performed with a desire to enjoy the results but offered to me is in rajas. And work impelled by violence and envy is in tamas.
He who performs prescribed duties which are offered to me is in sattva. Nārada has said:
naiṣkarmyam apy acyuta-bhāva-varjitaṁ
na śobhate jṣānam alaṁ niraṣjanam |
kutaḥ punaḥ śaśvad abhadram īśvare
na cārpitaṁ karma yad apy akāraṇam ||
Even the stage of jṣāna without the bondage of karma is not glorious because it is devoid of bhakti to the Supreme Lord. What is the use of having destroyed ignorance? What to speak of sakāma-karma which is suffering during practice and perfection, and niṣkāma-karma, when not offered to the Lord? SB 1.5.12
Thus, any karma prescribed in dharma-śāstra, if not offered to the Lord, is useless. That statement should be considered in the present verse. The daily duties should be offered to me. Even kāmya-karmas, without desire for material results, should be offered to me. These actions are in sattva. Kāmya-karmas, with a desire for results, but offered to me, are in rajas. Activities mentioned in irreligious scriptures with an aim to commit violence are in tamas. The word ādi indicates acts done with pride or envy. Pure worship with hearing and chanting is beyond the guṇas.
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.