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

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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…