Word meanings
- yat
- which
- tu
- but
- kāma-īpsunā
- prompted by selfish desire
- karma
- action
- sa-ahaṅkāreṇa
- with pride
- vā
- or
- punaḥ
- again
- kriyate
- enacted
- bahula-āyāsam
- stressfully
- tat
- that
- rājasam
- in the nature of passion
- udāhṛtam
- is said to be
Translations
But that action which is done by one longing for the fulfillment of desires or gain with egotism or with much effort is declared to be Rajasic (passionate).
But even though an action involves the most strenuous endeavor, yet if the doer is seeking to gratify their desires and is filled with personal vanity, it may be assumed to originate in passion.
But that action is said to be born of rajas which is done by one desirous of results or by one who is egotistical, and which is highly strenuous.
परन्तु जो कर्म भोगोंको चाहनेवाले मनुष्यके द्वारा अहंकार अथवा परिश्रमपूर्वक किया जाता है, वह राजस कहा गया है।Commentary
A passionate man performs various selfish actions. He boasts of his actions in public. Passion prompts him to do them. He can never work without expectation of a reward. Kamepsuna, phalepsuna The Rajasic or passionate man expects pleasures as fruits of action. A liberated sage alone is absolutely free from egoism. He will not dream even of a reward for the action, because all his desires are gratified when he realises Brahman. He is an Aptakama. (Aptakamasya ka spriha) How can there be longing or craving in a sage in whom all desires are gratified or burnt by the fire of Selfknowledge.
Even the performer of a pure act, who has no knowledge of the Self is egoistic. If such be the case, the Rajasic and Tamasic workers are much more egoistic. In worldly parlance we speak of a learned Pundit This Pundit is a very modest, unassuming, and egoless Brahmana. Now listen? O Arjuna, to the characteristics of action that is of darkness.