Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga · Verse 25

Bhagavad Gita 17.25

Freedom deepens when action stops demanding a private return.

Wisdom translation, edited by Ankur Shukla. Commentary AI-drafted, human-reviewed. Reviewed June 2026. Methodology →

तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः ।
दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षि ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
तत् नामसे कहे जानेवाले परमात्माके लिये ही सब कुछ है ऐसा मानकर मुक्ति चाहनेवाले मनुष्योंद्वारा फलकी इच्छासे रहित होकर अनेक प्रकारकी यज्ञ और तपरूप क्रियाएँ तथा दानरूप क्रियाएँ की जाती हैं ॥
English
Thinking “all this is for the supreme reality,” seekers of freedom perform many kinds of sacrifice, austerity, and giving without wanting the result.

What this verse means

People seeking freedom do sacred actions, self-discipline, and giving without chasing personal reward. They treat the work itself as an offering.

Context & commentary

On Kurukshetra, Arjuna is frozen before battle, and Krishna keeps building the inner discipline needed to act rightly. Here he explains that seekers of freedom perform sacrifice, austerity, and giving without clinging to personal gain.

Why this verse still matters

You send the apology, make the donation, or do the hard right thing — and no one thanks you. The act still stands complete without applause.

The takeaway

You can act with devotion and still let go of what comes back.

Word-by-word translation

तत् (that) / इति (thus) / अनभिसन्धाय (without aiming at) / फलम् (fruit, result) / यज्ञ (sacrifice) / तपः (austerity) / क्रियाः (actions) / दान-क्रियाः (acts of giving) / च (and) / विविधाः (various) / क्रियन्ते (are done) / मोक्ष-काङ्क्षि (by those desiring freedom)

Explore related themes: moksha (34 verses), yajna (32 verses), tapas (22 verses)

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