Word meanings
- rajaḥ
- mode of passion
- rāga-ātmakam
- of the nature of passion
- viddhi
- know
- tṛṣṇā
- desires
- saṅga
- association
- samudbhavam
- arises from
- tat
- that
- nibadhnāti
- binds
- kaunteya
- Arjun, the son of Kunti
- karma-saṅgena
- through attachment to fruitive actions
- dehinam
- the embodied soul
Translations
Know, O Arjuna, that Rajas is of the nature of passion, the source of thirst and attachment; it binds fast the embodied one by attachment to action.
Passion, engendered by thirst for pleasure and attachment, binds the soul through its fondness for activities.
Know rajas to be of the nature of passion, born of hankering and attachment. O son of Kunti, it binds the embodied one through attachment to action.
हे कुन्तीनन्दन ! तृष्णा और आसक्तिको पैदा करनेवाले रजोगुणको तुम रागस्वरूप समझो। वह कर्मोंकी आसक्तिसे शरीरधारीको बाँधता है।Commentary
The ality of Rajas denotes activity and ambition. The Rajasic man is full of cravings and desires. The cravings force him to act for their fulfilment. He gets attached to those who help him in the fulfilment of his desire and hates those who stand in his way. He is attached to action. He enters on great undertakings. He performs various sorts of sacrifices and rituals and charitable activities. He runs after sensual pleasures and his desires become insatiable like a flame fed by oil.
The Self is not the doer. It is the silent witness but Rajas creates in the man the idea? I am the doer. Rajas pleases the mind and keeps alive the passions.A Rajasic man is never contented. He is ever greedy and restless. The more he acires, the more passionate and greedy he becomes. Desires multiply. Nothing gives him satisfaction. If he is a millionaire, he tries to become a multimillionaire. It is like petrol poured into the fire, which inflames it further. A Rajasic man loses his understanding and power of discrimination.
His understanding is clouded. He is under intoxication of the pride of wealth. His intellect is turbid. He has a perverted intellect. On account of perversion of intellect misery appears to him to be happiness pain appears to him to be pleasure sorrow appears to be joy. His goal is money and women. He worships mammon as his god. He runs after name, fame and comforts and involves himself in endless activities. Quickness has been associated with the fish, with the flash of lightning and with the glance of a woman.
But Rajas is icker than these. A Rajasic man is more active than these. He thinks What will happen to me after my possessions are gone and thus worries himself unnecessarily and engages himself in endless activities. He has no peace of mind. He thirsts for what has not been attained and is attached to what has already been obtained. He wishes and tries to protect his possessions. This is Sanga. I will do such and such an action. I will get such and such a result. I will do this sacrifice.
I will enjoy in heaven. This sort of clinging to action and its fruits is Karma Sanga.