Verse 17.11

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 17.11:

अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर् यज्ञो विधि-दिष्टो य इज्यते ।
यष्टव्यम् एवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः ॥ ११ ॥

aphalākāṅkṣibhir yajño vidhi-diṣṭo ya ijyate |
yaṣṭavyam eveti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ || 11 ||

aphala-ākāṅkṣibhiḥ–by persons without desires for the result; yajñaḥ–sacrifice; vidhi-diṣṭaḥ–which is directed by the injunctions (of scripture); yaḥ–which; ijyate–is performed; yaṣṭavyam–sacrifice should be dutifully performed;eva–certainly; iti–thus; manaḥ–the mind; samādhāya–resolving; saḥ–that; sāttvikaḥ–in goodness.

“The performance of sacrifice (yajña) is obligatory.” When sacrifice is executed in accordance with such firm resolution of mind, within the directions of scriptural injunction and without expectation of reward, it is in the mode of goodness.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

Now Śrī Bhagavān is describing the three types of sacrifice (yajña). If one questions how one engages in yajña without expecting the result, then Śrī Bhagavān says, “He concludes that it is imperative to perform yajña because it is his duty and because it has been prescribed in the scriptures as his duty.”