1 Gita Sloka Every Day - Chapter 18 - Moksha Sanyasa Yoga - Sloka 23

The entire content of this mail is from Shri V N Gopala Desikan's  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, published by Vishishtadvaita Research Centre, Chennai and The Bhagavad Gita by Swami Chidbhavananda published by Ramakrishna Mission

The Three Gunas Give Impetus to Karma - 18-40

1 Gita Sloka  Every Day - Chapter 18 - Moksha Sanyasa Yoga - Sloka 23

Niyatam sanga rahitam araga dveshatah krutam I

Aphala prepsuna karma yat tat sattvikam uchyate II sloka 23

नियतम् संग रहितं अराग द्वेषतः कृतं I 
अफल प्रेप्सुना कर्म यत् तत् सात्त्विकं उच्यते II श्लोक 23

An action which is ordained, which is free from attachment, which is done without love or hatred by one not desirous of the fruit, such an action is declared to be sattvika

The Bhagavad Gita by Swami Chidbhavananda published by Ramakrishna Mission

Breathing is indispensable to life; and it is done without love or hatred. An ordained duty is also to be executed i such a manner. The obligatory duty of a man varies with his attainments. The working out of a sum in arithmetic by a pupil depends on the class in which he is  placed. Similarly, the duties of men vary according to their station in life or asrama. The duties of Arjuna were to wage a righteous war, protect the weak and punish the wicked. Every individual in society has his duty to discharge. It has to be executed faithfully and incessantly like breathing. No selfish consideration should dominate that work. Duty for duty's sake is the motto of a yogi. When the duty is discharged with such a sterling attitude, the man grows both in knowledge and efficiency. action of such a calibre is upheld as sattvika

Shri V N Gopala Desikan's  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, published by Vishishtadvaita Research Centre

The karma or work which is done accordance to one's ashrama and caste, as prescribed in the shastras; without desire for the fruits like swarga etc; without thinking that he is the doer and that the work belongs to im (as mentioned in sloka 4); without desire for fame or praise from others; not because of aversion to jeering or criticism by others; if the work is not done (ie. not doing the work, only because of fear of others criticism); without pomp; with the firm belief that the karma has to be done as a duty; such a karma is called as sattvika