नियतं सङ्गरहितमरागद्वेषतः कृतम् ।अफलप्रेप्सुना कर्म यत्तत्सात्त्विकमुच्यते ॥
niyataṃ saṅgarahitam arāgadveṣataḥ kṛtam |aphalaprepsunā karma yat tat sāttvikam ucyate ||
- नियतम् · niyatam
- prescribed
- सङ्गरहितम् · saṅgarahitam
- free from attachment
- अरागद्वेषतः · arāgadveṣataḥ
- without attraction or aversion
- कृतम् · kṛtam
- done
- अफलप्रेप्सुना · aphalaprepsunā
- by one not seeking the fruit
- कर्म · karma
- action
- यत् · yat
- which
- तत् · tat
- that
- सात्त्विकम् · sāttvikam
- sattvic
- उच्यते · ucyate
- is called
“Action that is prescribed, free from attachment, done without attraction or aversion by one who seeks no fruit — that is called sattvic.”
— Original plain-language translation
Sattvic action has four marks: it is due (niyata), ungrasping, emotionally even, and fruit-free. This is karma-yoga distilled to a checklist the reader can apply to any task. Notice 'without likes or dislikes' — inner weather no longer steers outer duty.
— Reader's notes (original)