Bhagavad Gita 18.34यया तु धर्मकामार्थान् धृत्या धारयतेऽर्जुन।प्रसङ्गेन फलाकाङ्क्षी धृतिः सा पार्थ राजसी ॥
yayā tu dharma-kāmārthān dhṛityā dhārayate ‘rjuna
prasaṅgena phalākāṅkṣhī dhṛitiḥ sā pārtha rājasī
Sanskrit recitation
Knowledge, work, and the worker · 18.29–18.40 · Teaching
Translation
But that, O Arjuna, by which one holds fast to Dharma (duty), enjoyment of pleasures, and earning of wealth, on account of attachment and desire for reward—that firmness, O Arjuna, is Rajasic (passionate).
Hindi translation
हे पृथानन्दन अर्जुन ! फलकी इच्छावाला मनुष्य जिस धृतिके द्वारा धर्म, काम (भोग) और अर्थको अत्यन्त आसक्तिपूर्वक धारण करता है, वह धृति राजसी है।
Meaning
The man of Rajasic firmness imagines that he will achieve the threefold aim of life and clings to it passionately. He is desirous of getting the rewards of his actions. He endeavours to attain Dharma, wealth and pleasure. The firmness of such a person is Rajasic or passionate.Now listen, O Arjuna, to the third kind of firmness -- the Tamasic type.
After Swami Sivananda
Knowledge, work, and the worker· 18.29–18.40→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 18.29Hear thou the threefold division of intellect and firmness, according to the Gunas, as I…
- 18.30The intellect which knows the path of work and renunciation, what should be done and what…
- 18.31That by which one wrongly understands dharma and adharma, and also what ought to be done…
- 18.32That intellect, O Arjuna, which is enveloped in darkness and sees Adharma as Dharma and…
- 18.33The unwavering firmness, through which Yoga restrains the functions of the mind,…
18.34But that, O Arjuna, by which one holds fast to Dharma (duty), enjoyment of pleasures, and…
- 18.35That firmness, O Arjuna, by which a stupid man does not abandon sleep, fear, grief,…
- 18.36And now, O Arjuna, hear from Me of the threefold pleasure, in which one rejoices through…
- 18.37That which is like poison at first but in the end like nectar—that happiness is declared…
- 18.38That happiness which arises from the contact of the senses with the objects, which is…
- 18.39That happiness which at first, as well as in the end, deludes the self, and which arises…
- 18.40There is no being on earth or in heaven among the gods that is liberated from the three…
Word-by-word→
- tu
- but
- sā
- that
- yayā
- by which
- arjuna
- Arjun
- pārtha
- Arjun, the son of Pritha
- rājasī
- in the mode of passion
- dhārayate
- holds
- dhṛityā
- through steadfast will
- dhṛitiḥ
- determination
- prasaṅgena
- due of attachment
- dharma-kāma-arthān
- duty, pleasures, and wealth
- phala-ākāṅkṣhī
- desire for rewards
Read this when you feel
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- 17.11That sacrifice which is offered by men without desire for reward, as enjoined by the…
- 18.49He whose intellect is unattached everywhere, who has subdued his self, from whom desire…
- 4.14Actions do not taint Me, nor do I have a desire for the fruit of actions. He who knows Me…