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Chapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation · 78 verses

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Nature & guṇasChapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation
18.2518.27

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 18.26

Knowledge, action, determination and happiness in the modes

मुक्तसङ्गोऽनहंवादी धृत्युत्साहसमन्वित: ।

सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योर्निर्विकार: कर्ता सात्त्विक उच्यते ॥ २६ ॥

mukta-saṅgo ’nahaṁ-vādī

dhṛty-utsāha-samanvitaḥ

siddhy-asiddhyor nirvikāraḥ

kartā sāttvika ucyate

Translation

One who performs his duty without association with the modes of material nature, without false ego, with great determination and enthusiasm, and without wavering in success or failure is said to be a worker in the mode of goodness.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

A Worker in Goodness

  1. 1A worker in goodness does duty free from the material modes and false ego, with determination, enthusiasm, and steadiness in success or failure.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that a person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is above the material modes and works without expecting results, remaining enthusiastic until the work is complete.
  3. 3Do your duty with enthusiasm, without pride or expectations for results, and stay steady in success or failure.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 18, The Perfection of Renunciation: knowledge, action, determination and happiness in the modes.

What it teaches

Theme summary

The modes of nature condition behavior.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: prakṛti, guṇa.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 18.26 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to nature & guṇas?

Practice

Observe which mode shaped your last decision.

4

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 18.19Knowledge, action, determination and happiness in the modesBG 18.20Knowledge, action, determination and happiness in the modesBG 7.14Crossing beyond māyā

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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Ask about BG 18.26 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.