Thinking “all this is for the supreme reality,” seekers of freedom perform many kinds of sacrifice, austerity, and giving without wanting the result.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 17.25
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 ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
तत्thatइतिthusअनभिसन्धायwithout aiming atफलम्fruit, resultयज्ञsacrificeतपःausterityक्रियाःactionsदान-क्रियाःacts of givingचandविविधाःvariousक्रियन्तेare doneमोक्ष-काङ्क्षिby those desiring freedom
Read literallythat · thus · without aiming at · fruit, result · sacrifice · austerity · actions · acts of giving · and · various · are done · by those desiring freedom
Understanding the verse
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With the word Tat in mind, people seeking freedom give and sacrifice without asking anything back.
People seeking freedom do sacred actions, self-discipline, and giving without chasing personal reward. They treat the work itself as an offering.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna keeps building the inner discipline needed to act rightly. Here he explains that those who seek freedom perform sacrifice, austerity, and giving without clinging to personal gain.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
A daughter pays for her father's cataract surgery and never mentions it to her siblings. Krishna describes that kind of act: done as an offering, with no bargain for thanks or credit attached.
The takeaway
“You can act with devotion and still let go of what comes back.”
Explore related themes: moksha(34 verses), yajna(32 verses), tapas(22 verses)
Common questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 17.25 mean?
People seeking freedom do sacred actions, self-discipline, and giving without chasing personal reward. They treat the work itself as an offering.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 17.25?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga" (The Three Kinds of Faith).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 17.25?
Verse 25 sits in Chapter 17 of the Bhagavad Gita — Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga, "The Three Kinds of Faith". The chapter has 28 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 17.25 matter today?
A daughter pays for her father's cataract surgery and never mentions it to her siblings. Krishna describes that kind of act: done as an offering, with no bargain for thanks or credit attached.
With the word Tat in mind, people seeking freedom give and sacrifice without asking anything back.
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
Krishna keeps building the inner discipline needed to act rightly. Here he explains that those who seek freedom perform sacrifice, austerity, and giving without clinging to personal gain.
What it looks like today
A daughter pays for her father's cataract surgery and never mentions it to her siblings. Krishna describes that kind of act: done as an offering, with no bargain for thanks or credit attached.
“You can act with devotion and still let go of what comes back.”
Explore related themes: moksha (34 verses), yajna (32 verses), tapas (22 verses)