Bhagvad Gita - Chapter: 18 Moksha Sannyasa Yogah

Moksha Sannyasa Yogah - That knowledge by which one sees the one indestructible reality in all beings, undivided in the divided, know that knowledge to be sattvic.

सर्वभूतेषु येनैकं भावमव्ययमीक्षते |
अविभक्तं विभक्तेषु तज्ज्ञानं विद्धि सात्त्विकम् ||20||

That knowledge by which one sees the one indestructible reality in all beings, undivided in the divided, know that knowledge to be sattvic.

Avibhaktaṃ: Undivided.
Vibhakteṣu: In the divided.
Avyayam: Imperishable.
Īkṣate: Sees.

The description of sattvic knowledge presents the highest spiritual vision—seeing unity amid diversity. This perspective doesn't deny the world's apparent multiplicity but perceives the underlying wholeness, enabling action that honors both universal principles and particular situations.

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Moksha Sannyasa Yogah - But that knowledge which sees multiplicity of beings of different kinds due to their separateness, know that knowledge to be rajasic.

पृथक्त्वेन तु यज्ज्ञानं नानाभावान्पृथग्विधान् |
वेत्ति सर्वेषु भूतेषु तज्ज्ञानं विद्धि राजसम् ||21||

But that knowledge which sees multiplicity of beings of different kinds due to their separateness, know that knowledge to be rajasic.

Pṛthaktvena: Separately.
Nānābhāvān: Various entities.
Pṛthagvidhān: Of different types.
Vetti: Knows.

Rajasic knowledge represents partial understanding that sees only separation without underlying unity. While functional on a practical level, this perspective misses the deeper connections between beings, leading to action motivated by self-interest rather than universal welfare.

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Moksha Sannyasa Yogah - But that knowledge which clings to one single effect as if it were the whole, without reason, without foundation in truth, and narrow, that is declared to be tamasic.

यत्तु कृत्स्नवदेकस्मिन्कार्ये सक्तमहैतुकम् |
अतत्त्वार्थवदल्पं च तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ||22||

But that knowledge which clings to one single effect as if it were the whole, without reason, without foundation in truth, and narrow, that is declared to be tamasic.

Kṛtsnavat: As if the whole.
Ekasmin: In one single.
Ahaitukam: Without reason.
Atattvārthavat: Without truth-value.

Tamasic knowledge represents the most limited perspective—focusing narrowly on isolated phenomena without understanding broader contexts or deeper principles. This constricted view leads to dogmatic thinking and actions that create harm due to ignorance of consequences.

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Moksha Sannyasa Yogah - An action which is ordained, which is free from attachment, which is done without love or hatred by one not desirous of the fruit, that action is declared to be sattvic.

नियतं सङ्गरहितमरागद्वेषत: कृतम् |
अफलप्रेप्सुना कर्म यतत्सात्त्विकमुच्यते ||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, that action is declared to be sattvic.

Saṅgarahitam: Free from attachment.
Arāgadveṣataḥ: Without love or hatred.
Aphalaprepsunā: Without desire for fruits.
Uchyate: Is called.

Sattvic action embodies the ideal of nishkama karma (desireless action) taught throughout the Gita. By defining it as action performed without attachment yet with full dedication, Krishna presents the practical solution to Arjuna's dilemma about how to act in the world.

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Moksha Sannyasa Yogah - But that action which is done by one longing for pleasures, or done with egoism, or with much effort, that is declared to be rajasic.

यत्तुकामेप्सुना कर्म साहङ्कारेण वा पुन: |
क्रियते बहुलायासं तद्राजसमुदाहृतम् ||24||

But that action which is done by one longing for pleasures, or done with egoism, or with much effort, that is declared to be rajasic.

Kāmepsunā: Desiring pleasures.
Sāhaṅkāreṇa: With egoism.
Bahulāyāsaṃ: With great effort.
Udāhṛtam: Is declared.

Rajasic action reveals how desire and ego-involvement complicate our activities, requiring excessive effort while yielding less meaningful results. This middle category shows how most human action becomes tiring and ultimately unsatisfying when motivated by personal desires.

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Moksha Sannyasa Yogah - That action which is undertaken from delusion, without regard to the consequences, loss, injury, and ability, that is declared to be tamasic.

अनुबन्धं क्षयं हिंसामनपेक्ष्य च पौरुषम् |
मोहादारभ्यते कर्म यतत्तामसमुच्यते ||25||

That action which is undertaken from delusion, without regard to the consequences, loss, injury, and ability, that is declared to be tamasic.

Anubandhaṃ: Future consequences.
Kṣayaṃ: Loss or waste.
Hiṃsām: Injury.
Pauruṣaṃ: Human capacity.

Tamasic action represents the most harmful category—actions undertaken without consideration of consequences, harm to others, or personal capacity. By highlighting how delusion leads to destructive behavior, Krishna completes his analysis of the quality of actions.

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Moksha Sannyasa Yogah - An agent who is free from attachment, non-egotistic, endowed with firmness and enthusiasm, and unaffected by success or failure, is called sattvic.

मुक्तसङ्गोऽनहंवादी धृत्युत्साहसमन्वित: |
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योर्निर्विकार: कर्ता सात्त्विक उच्यते ||26||

An agent who is free from attachment, non-egotistic, endowed with firmness and enthusiasm, and unaffected by success or failure, is called sattvic.

Muktasaṅgo: Free from attachment.
Anahaṃvādī: Non-egotistic.
Dhṛtyutsāha: Firmness and enthusiasm.
Nirvikaraḥ: Unaffected.

The sattvic doer represents the ideal agent who acts from wisdom rather than ego. This equanimity toward success and failure enables consistent performance of duty without the emotional turbulence that typically accompanies action, exemplifying the "skill in action" Krishna advocates.

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