Chapter 17, Verse 25
तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः | दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षिभिः ||१७-२५||
tadityanabhisandhāya phalaṃ yajñatapaḥkriyāḥ . dānakriyāśca vividhāḥ kriyante mokṣakāṅkṣibhiḥ ||17-25||
Meaning
17.25 Uttering ï1Tatï1, without aiming at the fruits, are the acts of sacrifice and austerity and the various acts of gifts performed by the seekers of liberation.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Krishna now reveals the meaning of the second word, Tat ('That'). By uttering Tat, the seeker relinquishes all claim to the fruit of the action — anabhisandhaya phalam, without aiming at any reward. Those who long for liberation (moksha-kankshibhih) perform their sacrifices, austerities, and gifts in this spirit, offering them up to 'That' Supreme rather than grasping at personal gain.
While Om dedicates an act to the Divine, Tat releases it of self-interest. The word points to the transcendent Reality, beyond name and form, and in invoking it the doer surrenders the results. This is the heart of the Gita's path of liberation: act fully, then let go. The one who seeks freedom does not bind themselves with the chains of expectation. By saying 'Tat,' they entrust the outcome to the Absolute and thereby loosen the very attachment that keeps the soul bound.
💡 Key Takeaway
Offer your actions to the Supreme and release all claim to their fruits — letting go of results is the path to inner freedom.
Related Verses
अफलाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते | यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः ||१७-११||
aphalāṅkṣibhiryajño vidhidṛṣṭo ya ijyate . yaṣṭavyameveti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ ||17-11||
17.11 That sacrifice which is offered by men without desire for reward as enjoined by the ordinance (scripture), with a firm faith that to do so is a duty, is Sattvic or pure.
श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्त्रिविधं नरैः | अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते ||१७-१७||
śraddhayā parayā taptaṃ tapastattrividhaṃ naraiḥ . aphalākāṅkṣibhiryuktaiḥ sāttvikaṃ paricakṣate ||17-17||
17.17 This threefold austerity, practised by steadfast men, with the utmost faith, desiring no reward, they call Sattvic.
दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे | देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम् ||१७-२०||
dātavyamiti yaddānaṃ dīyate.anupakāriṇe . deśe kāle ca pātre ca taddānaṃ sāttvikaṃ smṛtam ||17-20||
17.20 That gift which is given to one who does nothing in return, knowing it to be a duty to give in a fit place and time to a worthy person, that gift is held to be Sattvic.