अफलाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते | यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः ||१७-११||
aphalāṅkṣibhiryajño vidhidṛṣṭo ya ijyate . yaṣṭavyameveti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ ||17-11||
Chapter 17 · Verse 11
Shraddha Traya Vibhaga Yoga
श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोग
In plain words
When a sacrifice is done with all due Sattvic rites faith and devotion without the least taint of desire for reward with the mind fixed on the sacrifice only for its own sake (for the,sake of discharging the duty only) then it is said to be pure in its nature. Here the sacrifice is done in a disinterested spirit or with an attitude of desirelessness (Nishkamya Bhava) as an auxiliary to the attainment of the knowledge of the Self. Such selfless and desireless actions purify the mind and prepare the aspirant for the reception of divine light or knowledge of the Self.
Translation
17.11 The sacrifice (worship) marked by Sattva is what is offered by those desiring no fruit, and having the conviction that it should be performed as enjoined in the Sastras.
Meaning
When a sacrifice is done with all due Sattvic rites faith and devotion without the least taint of desire for reward with the mind fixed on the sacrifice only for its own sake (for the,sake of discharging the duty only) then it is said to be pure in its nature. Here the sacrifice is done in a disinterested spirit or with an attitude of desirelessness (Nishkamya Bhava) as an auxiliary to the attainment of the knowledge of the Self. Such selfless and desireless actions purify the mind and prepare the aspirant for the reception of divine light or knowledge of the Self. The Sattvic nature of a man forces him to do such selfless and desireless sacrifices. He does not care even for his own emancipation. He performs them with the firm belief that they ought to be done. He does them with the firm resolve that sacrifice is a duty. Yajna here is not limited to the ceremonial sacrifice. It is used in a broad sense. Any unselfish action done without attachment without agency or egoism and without expectation of reward as an offering unto the Lord is a Yajna or sacrifice.
Word by word
अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिः by men desiring no fruit यज्ञः sacrifice विधिदृष्टः as enjoined by the ordinance यः which इज्यते is offered यष्टव्यम् ought to be offered एव only इति thus मनः the mind समाधाय having fixed सः that सात्त्विकः Sattvic or pure.