Gita 17.25

Chapter 17: Three Types of Faith

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Gita 17.25
तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः। दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षिभिः॥

tad ity anabhisandhāya phalaṁ yajña-tapaḥ-kriyāḥ dāna-kriyāś ca vividhāḥ kriyante mokṣa-kāṅkṣibhiḥ

"With 'Tat,' without aiming at results, acts of sacrifice, austerity, and various acts of charity are performed by seekers of liberation."

What This Means:

By uttering 'Tat' (That), seekers of liberation perform sacrifice, austerity, and charity without seeking results. 'Tat' means 'That'—offering all to the transcendent, not to one's ego.

Going Deeper:

'Tat iti anabhisandhāya phalam'—saying 'Tat' without aiming at fruit. 'Tat' (That) represents the transcendent—beyond personal gain. 'Mokṣa-kāṅkṣibhiḥ'—by those desiring liberation. The practice: perform acts saying 'Tat'—this is for That, not for me. This dissolves the ego-grasping in action.

How To Apply This:

When you act, mentally offer it to 'That'—the transcendent reality beyond your small self. 'Tat'—this is for That. This shifts action from ego-project to offering.

Key Sanskrit Terms:

Tat= Thatanabhisandhāya= without aiming atmokṣa-kāṅkṣibhiḥ= by seekers of liberation