Topic

Selflessness

3 verses from the Bhagavad Gita on selflessness. Explore teachings across 2 chapters.

All Verses

Chapter 3 • Verse 13 →The Yoga of Action
Yajna-shishtashinah santo mucyante sarva-kilbishaih, bhunjate te tv agham papa ye pacanty atma-karanat

The spiritually-minded, who eat food that is first offered in sacrifice, are released from all kinds of sin. Others, who cook food for their own enjoyment, verily eat only sin.

  • •Share before consuming
  • •Gratitude in all actions
  • •Selfish consumption binds us
sacrificegratitudesharingoffering
Chapter 17 • Verse 17 →The Yoga of Threefold Faith
sraddhayanvitah, anasuyanto 'bhyasuyanti ye tu dharma-nitya-krit-anustita tat tapas tri-vidham naraih, phalam akankshabhir yuktaih sattvikam paricakshate

This threefold austerity — of body, speech, and mind — practiced with supreme faith by men who seek no personal fruit is called sattvic.

  • •Sattvic austerity is practiced for its own spiritual value, not for gain
  • •All three dimensions of austerity — physical, verbal, and mental — must be unified
  • •Faith without desire for reward is the mark of the highest austerity
sattvic austerityfaithsattvatapas
Chapter 17 • Verse 20 →The Yoga of Threefold Faith
Datavyam iti yad danam diyate 'nupakarine, deshe kale cha patre cha tad danam sattvikam smritam

Charity given to a worthy person simply because it is right to give, without consideration of anything in return, at the proper time and place—such charity is of the nature of goodness.

  • •Give without expectation
  • •Right time, place, and recipient
  • •Sattvic charity is selfless
charitygivingsattvagenerosity