Manasa, vacha, karmana are three Sanskrit words. The word manasa refers to the mind, vacha refers to speech, and karmana refers to actions.
In several Indian languages, these three words are together used to describe a state of consistency expected of an individual. The motto manasa, vacha, karmana is usually invoked to imply that one should strive to achieve the state where one's thoughts, speech, and the actions coincide.
The definitions below are from Macdonnell's Sanskrit Dictionary:
These three words appear at Mahabharata 13.8.16:
These three words also appear in at least one version of the Guru Gita:
Trikaranaà Âuddhi indicates the purity and unity of (1) manasa (thought), (2) vacha (word/speech), and (3) karmana (deed/action), and a harmony and congruence between them. A spiritual saying of India speaks about the existence of this congruence in great people ("Mahatma"): "Manassekam, Vachassekam, Karmanyekam Mahaatmanam". It may also indicate that a "Mahatma" is one whose thoughts (Manas), words (Vachas) and Deeds (Karma) are centered on 'Unity'. It may also indicate that a "Mahatma" is one, whose thoughts (Manas), words (Vachas) and deeds (Karm) are centered on 'Unity'. The idea of Trikaranasuddhi has some connection to the commonly expressed adage of 'Talk your thought, walk your Talk'.
There has been exploration about the linkage between trikaranasuddhi and effectiveness in leadership.