Bhagvad Gita - Chapter: 18 Moksha Sannyasa Yogah

अयुक्त: प्राकृत: स्तब्ध: शठो नैष्कृतिकोऽलस: |
विषादी दीर्घसूत्री च कर्ता तामस उच्यते ||28||

Unsteady, vulgar, unbending, cheating, malicious, lazy, despondent, and procrastinating, such an agent is called tamasic.

Ayuktaḥ: Unsteady.
Stabdhaḥ: Unbending.
Naiṣkṛtiko: Deceitful.
Dīrghasūtrī: Procrastinating.

The tamasic doer embodies the lowest quality of action—characterized by inconsistency, dishonesty, and procrastination. These qualities prevent effective action of any kind, spiritual or material, highlighting how tamas obstructs both worldly success and spiritual progress.

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Moksha Sannyasa Yogah - Hear the threefold division of intellect and firmness according to the gunas, as I declare them fully and distinctly, O Dhananjaya.

बुद्धेर्भेदं धृतेश्चैव गुणतस्त्रिविधं शृणु |
प्रोच्यमानमशेषेण पृथक्त्वेन धनञ्जय ||29||

Hear the threefold division of intellect and firmness according to the gunas, as I declare them fully and distinctly, O Dhananjaya.

Buddheḥ: Of intellect.
Dhṛteḥ: Of firmness.
Pṛthaktvena: Distinctly.
Dhanaṃjaya: Wealth-winner (Arjuna).

Krishna now shifts to analyzing the intellect and determination according to the gunas. By addressing Arjuna as "Dhananjaya" (wealth-conqueror), he subtly reminds him of his capacity for discipline and achievement, preparing him to understand these crucial mental faculties.

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Moksha Sannyasa Yogah - That intellect which knows the paths of action and renunciation, what ought to be done and what ought not to be done, fear and fearlessness, bondage and liberation, that is sattvic, O Partha.

प्रवृत्तिंच निवृत्तिं च कार्याकार्ये भयाभये |
बन्धं मोक्षं च या वेत्तिबुद्धि: सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी ||30||

That intellect which knows the paths of action and renunciation, what ought to be done and what ought not to be done, fear and fearlessness, bondage and liberation, that is sattvic, O Partha.

Pravṛttiṃ: Activity.
Nivṛttiṃ: Inactivity.
Kāryākārye: What should and should not be done.
Bandhamoḳṣaṃ: Bondage and liberation.

Sattvic intellect possesses discernment that transcends superficial appearances, recognizing both what promotes spiritual freedom and what causes bondage. This discriminative wisdom enables correct choices even in complex ethical situations, providing inner certainty amid outer confusion.

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Moksha Sannyasa Yogah - That intellect which does not properly understand what ought to be done and what ought not to be done, what should be feared and what should not be feared, that intellect, O Partha, is rajasic.

यया धर्ममधर्मं च कार्यं चाकार्यमेव च |
अयथावत्प्रजानाति बुद्धि: सा पार्थ राजसी ||31||

That intellect which does not properly understand what ought to be done and what ought not to be done, what should be feared and what should not be feared, that intellect, O Partha, is rajasic.

Ayathāvat: Not as it is.
Prajānāti: Understands.
Dharmam: Righteousness.
Adharmam: Unrighteousness.

Rajasic intellect lacks clear discrimination between higher and lower values, often confusing social convention with eternal principles. This confusion leads to inconsistent ethical decisions, as the person follows expedient rather than principled approaches to life's challenges.

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Moksha Sannyasa Yogah - That intellect which, shrouded by darkness, regards unrighteousness as righteousness and sees all things perverted, that intellect, O Partha, is tamasic.

अधर्मं धर्ममिति या मन्यते तमसावृता |
सर्वार्थान्विपरीतांश्च बुद्धि: सा पार्थ तामसी ||32||

That intellect which, shrouded by darkness, regards unrighteousness as righteousness and sees all things perverted, that intellect, O Partha, is tamasic.

Tamasāvṛtā: Shrouded in darkness.
Sarvārthān: All things.
Viparītāṃś: Perverted or contrary.
Manyate: Considers.

Tamasic intellect represents the complete inversion of values, mistaking harmful actions for beneficial ones. This isn't mere error but a fundamental distortion of perception that leads to destructive choices made with conviction, explaining how people can commit harmful acts believing they are right.

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Moksha Sannyasa Yogah - The unwavering firmness by which one controls the functions of the mind, the life-breaths and the senses through yoga, that firmness, O Partha, is sattvic.

धृत्या यया धारयते मन:प्राणेन्द्रियक्रिया: |
योगेनाव्यभिचारिण्या धृति: सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी ||33||

The unwavering firmness by which one controls the functions of the mind, the life-breaths and the senses through yoga, that firmness, O Partha, is sattvic.

Dhārayate: Holds firmly.
Manaḥprāṇendriya: Mind, breath, senses.
Avyabhichāriṇyā: Unwavering.
Yogena: Through discipline.

Sattvic determination reveals the integrated practice of yoga—the disciplined focus that harmonizes mind, breath, and senses toward spiritual goals. This unwavering commitment provides the foundation for all spiritual accomplishment, showing that consistency matters more than intensity.

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Moksha Sannyasa Yogah - But the firmness by which one holds to duty, pleasures and wealth, desiring the fruits of these according to their occasion, that firmness, O Partha, is rajasic.

यया तु धर्मकामार्थान्धृत्या धारयतेऽर्जुन |
प्रसङ्गेन फलाकाङ् क्षी धृति: सा पार्थ राजसी ||34||

But the firmness by which one holds to duty, pleasures and wealth, desiring the fruits of these according to their occasion, that firmness, O Partha, is rajasic.

Dharmakāmārthān: Duty, pleasure, wealth.
Prasaṅgena: Through attachment.
Phalākāṅkṣī: Desiring fruits.
Rājasī: Of passion quality.

Rajasic determination demonstrates how even strong will can be misdirected toward temporary achievements. The problem isn't lack of dedication but the fragmentation of energy across multiple goals, creating an exhausting pursuit of success that never brings lasting satisfaction.

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