Verse 14.16
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
कर्मणः सुकृतस्याहुः सात्त्विकं निर्मलं फलम् | रजसस्तु फलं दुःखमज्ञानं तमसः फलम् ||१६||
Transliteration (IAST)
karmaṇaḥ sukṛtasyāhuḥ sāttvikaṁ nirmalaṁ phalam | rajasas tu phalaṁ duḥkham ajñānaṁ tamasaḥ phalam ||16||
Word-by-Word Meanings
karmaṇaḥ-of action
sukṛtasya-righteous/well-done
sāttvikam-sattvic
nirmalam-pure
phalam-fruit/result
rajasaḥ-of Rajas
duḥkham-pain/sorrow
ajñānam-ignorance
Translation
The fruit of good action is said to be sattvic and pure; the fruit of Rajas is pain; and the fruit of Tamas is ignorance.
Commentary
Shankaracharya explains the three types of karmic fruits: sattvic actions yield purity and spiritual progress, rajasic actions ultimately produce suffering despite temporary pleasure, and tamasic actions deepen ignorance. Ramanuja notes that this verse establishes a clear hierarchy - only sattvic karma leads upward, while the others perpetuate or worsen bondage.
Themes
karmajnanadharma