In Bhagavad Gita 18.24, Krishna says action done to fulfil desires, with egoism, or with great strain, is called rajasic.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यत्तु कामेप्सुना कर्म
साहङ्कारेण वा पुनः
क्रियते बहुलायासं
तद्राजसमुदाहृतम् ॥ १८-२४ ॥
yattu kāmepsunā karma
sāhaṅkāreṇa vā punaḥ
kriyate bahulāyāsaṃ
tadrājasamudāhṛtam
English transliteration yattu kaamepsunaa karma
saahankaarena vaa punah
kriyate bahulaayaasam
tadraajasamudaahritam ॥ 18.24 ॥
Translation / Meaning
But action that is performed to fulfil desires, or with egoism, or with great strain, is declared to be rajasic.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यत् yat | which |
| तु tu | but |
| कामेप्सुना kāmepsunā | to fulfil desires kāma (desires) + ipsunā (seeking) |
| कर्म karma | action |
| साहङ्कारेण sāhaṅkāreṇa | with egoism sa (with) + ahaṅkāreṇa (egoism) |
| वा vā | or |
| पुनः punaḥ | again |
| क्रियते kriyate | is performed |
| बहुलायासम् bahulāyāsam | with great strain bahula (great) + āyāsam (strain) |
| तत् tat | that |
| राजसम् rājasam | rajasic |
| उदाहृतम् udāhṛtam | is declared |
Word-wise Chanting
- yat–tu kā–mep–su–nā kar–ma 8 syllables yat-tu kaa-mep-su-naa kar-ma
- sā–haṅ–kā–re–ṇa vā pu–naḥ | 8 syllables saa-han-kaa-re-na vaa pu-nah
- kri–ya–te ba–hu–lā–yā–saṃ 8 syllables kri-ya-te ba-hu-laa-yaa-sam
- tad–rā–ja–sa–mu–dā–hṛ–tam || 18-24 8 syllables tad-raa-ja-sa-mu-daa-hri-tam
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 18 Verse 24
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of action (18.23–18.25).
Meaning
Rājasika karma is driven by kāma, desire for results, or by ahaṅkāra, ego, the wish to be seen as the great doer. It is done bahula-āyāsa, with much strain and stress.
Much of modern work is rajasic: ambitious, ego-driven and stressful. Recognising this is the first step to working differently.
In Practice
Notice when your work becomes stressful because of ego or desire, and soften your grip.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Liberation and Renunciation). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.