In Bhagavad Gita 18.30, Krishna says the intellect that knows action and withdrawal, what should and should not be done, fear and fearlessness, bondage and liberation, is sattvic.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च
कार्याकार्ये भयाभये
बन्धं मोक्षं च या वेत्ति
बुद्धिः सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी ॥ १८-३० ॥
pravṛttiṃ ca nivṛttiṃ ca
kāryākārye bhayābhaye
bandhaṃ mokṣaṃ ca yā vetti
buddhiḥ sā pārtha sāttvikī
English transliteration pravrittim cha nivrittim cha
kaaryaakaarye bhayaabhaye
bandham moksham cha yaa vetti
buddhih saa paartha saattvikee ॥ 18.30 ॥
Translation / Meaning
That intellect which knows the path of action and of withdrawal, what ought to be done and what ought not to be done, what is to be feared and what is not, what binds and what liberates, O Partha, is sattvic.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| प्रवृत्तिम् pravṛttim | the path of action |
| च ca | and |
| निवृत्तिम् nivṛttim | the path of withdrawal |
| च ca | and |
| कार्याकार्ये kāryākārye | what ought and ought not to be done kārya (ought to be done) + akārye (ought not) |
| भयाभये bhayābhaye | fear and fearlessness bhaya (fear) + abhaye (fearlessness) |
| बन्धम् bandham | bondage |
| मोक्षम् mokṣam | liberation |
| च ca | and |
| या yā | which |
| वेत्ति vetti | knows |
| बुद्धिः buddhiḥ | intellect |
| सा sā | that |
| पार्थ pārtha | O Pārtha |
| सात्त्विकी sāttvikī | sattvic |
Word-wise Chanting
- pra–vṛt–tiṃ ca ni–vṛt–tiṃ ca 8 syllables pra-vrit-tim cha ni-vrit-tim cha
- kār–yā–kār–ye bha–yā–bha–ye | 8 syllables kaar-yaa-kaar-ye bha-yaa-bha-ye
- ban–dhaṃ mo–kṣaṃ ca yā vet–ti 8 syllables ban-dham mo-ksham cha yaa vet-ti
- bud–dhiḥ sā pār–tha sāt–tvi–kī || 18-30 8 syllables bud-dhih saa paar-tha saat-tvi-kee
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 30
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of intellect (18.30–18.32).
Meaning
The sāttvikī buddhi clearly distinguishes pravṛtti and nivṛtti, when to engage and when to withdraw; kārya and akārya, duty and non-duty; bhaya and abhaya, real dangers and false fears; and bandha and mokṣa, what binds and what frees.
A clear intellect is like a good compass: it shows the right direction in every situation.
In Practice
Before a decision today, ask clearly: does this bind me or free me?
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.