मदर्पणं निष्फलं वा सात्त्विकं निजकर्म तत् । राजसं फलसङ्कल्पं हिंसाप्रायादि तामसम् ॥ २३ ॥
mad-arpaṇaṁ niṣphalaṁ vā sāttvikaṁ nija-karma tat rājasaṁ phala-saṅkalpaṁ hiṁsā-prāyādi tāmasam
- 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
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.