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Chapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation · 78 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Nature & guṇasChapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 18.26

Knowledge, action, determination and happiness in the modes

Prakṛti · Material nature

मुक्तसङ्गोऽनहंवादी धृत्युत्साहसमन्वित: ।

सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योर्निर्विकार: कर्ता सात्त्विक उच्यते ॥ २६ ॥

mukta-saṅgo ’nahaṁ-vādī

dhṛty-utsāha-samanvitaḥ

siddhy-asiddhyor nirvikāraḥ

kartā sāttvika ucyate

Translation

One who performs his duty without association with the modes of material nature, without false ego, with great determination and enthusiasm, and without wavering in success or failure is said to be a worker in the mode of goodness.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

A Worker in Goodness

  1. 1

    A worker in goodness does duty free from the material modes and false ego, with determination, enthusiasm, and steadiness in success or failure.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that a person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is above the material modes and works without expecting results, remaining enthusiastic until the work is complete.

  3. 3

    Do your duty with enthusiasm, without pride or expectations for results, and stay steady in success or failure.

Key points from the purport

Worker in goodness

Performs his duty without association with the modes of material nature and without false ego

With great determination and enthusiasm

Without wavering in success or failure

In his purport to Text 18.26, Srila Prabhupada again equates the mode of goodness with Krishna consciousness

Further reading

The Modes Control All Activities

One’s work according to the five factors mentioned above is dictated by the three modes of material nature

This includes:

One’s knowledge (19-22) o One’s action (23-26)

One’s performance of action (27-28) o One’s understandings (29-32)

One’s determination(33-35) o One’s happiness (36-39)

All activities within the universe are thus controlled by the three modes SAKAMA TO NISKAMA KARMA YOGA

Chapter 18, section III: The Modes Control All Activities
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mukta-saṅgaḥliberated from all material association
  2. anaham-vādīwithout false ego
  3. dhṛtiwith determination
  4. utsāhaand great enthusiasm
  5. samanvitaḥqualified
  6. siddhiin perfection
  7. asiddhyoḥand failure
  8. nirvikāraḥwithout change
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: prakṛti, guṇa.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 18.26 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to nature & guṇas?

Practice

Observe which mode shaped your last decision.

5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

Live this todayWorship Kṛṣṇa Through Your WorkA practice from BG 18.46, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.