The fine line between Satvik and Tamsik action

The following is an excerpt from a samvaad (dialogue) session with Acharya Prashant.

नियतं सङ्गरहितमरागद्वेषत: कृतम् ।

अफलप्रेप्सुना कर्म यतत्सात्विकमुच्यते ।।

niyataṁ saṅga-rahitam arāga-dveṣhataḥ kṛitam

aphala-prepsunā karma yat tat sāttvikam uchyate

An ordained action done without love or hatred by one not desirous of the fruit and free from attachment is declared to be Sāttvika.

~ Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, Verse 23

✥ ✥

यत्तुžकामेप्सुना कर्म साहङ्कारेण वा पुन: ।

क्रियते बहुलायासं तद्राजसमुदाहृतम् ।।

yat tu kāmepsunā karma sāhankāreṇa vā punaḥ

kriyate bahulāyāsaṁ tad rājasam udāhṛitam

But that action which is performed desiring results, or with self-conceit and with much effort, is declared as Rājasika.

~ Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, Verse 24

✥ ✥ ✥

अनुबन्धं क्षयं हिंसामनपेक्ष्य च पौरुषम् ।

मोहादारभ्यते कर्म यतत्तामसमुच्यते ।।

anubandhaṁ kṣhayaṁ hinsām anapekṣhya cha pauruṣham mohād ārabhyate karma yat tat tāmasam uchyate

That action is declared to be Tāmsika which is undertaken through delusion, without heed to the consequence, loss (of power and wealth), injury (to others), and (one’s own) ability.

~ Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, Verse 25