Chapter 17, Verse 25 (Bhagavad Gita 17.25)
Chapter 17: Śhraddhā Traya Vibhāg Yog – Yoga through Discerning the Three Divisions of Faith
Sanskrit Shloka
तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः।दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षि
Transliteration
tad ity anabhisandhāya phalaṁ yajña-tapaḥ-kriyāḥ dāna-kriyāśh cha vividhāḥ kriyante mokṣha-kāṅkṣhibhiḥ
Word Meanings
tat—the syllable Tat; iti—thus; anabhisandhāya—without desiring; phalam—fruitive rewards; yajña—sacrifice; tapaḥ—austerity; kriyāḥ—acts; dāna—charity; kriyāḥ—acts; cha—and; vividhāḥ—various; kriyante—are done; mokṣha-kāṅkṣhibhiḥ—by seekers of freedom from material entanglements
Translation
Uttering the word 'Tat,' without desire for fruits, the various acts of sacrifice, austerity, and charity are performed by those seeking liberation.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound verse, Bhagwan Shri Krishna reveals that the path to liberation begins with a shift in consciousness, where actions are stripped of selfish expectation. By invoking 'Tat'—the syllable representing the Absolute Brahman—the seeker aligns their humble deeds with the eternal, transcendental reality of the Supreme Lord Krishna. Such selfless service transforms ordinary rituals of sacrifice, austerity, and charity into powerful spiritual exercises that purify the heart. When the soul acts not for personal gain but as an offering unto the Supreme, the fetters of karma are broken. Thus, Shri Krishna guides the seeker toward moksha by teaching them to tether every worldly deed to His infinite, divine nature.