In Bhagavad Gita 18.31, Krishna says the intellect that wrongly understands dharma and adharma, and what should and should not be done, is rajasic.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यया धर्ममधर्मं च
कार्यं चाकार्यमेव च
अयथावत्प्रजानाति
बुद्धिः सा पार्थ राजसी ॥ १८-३१ ॥
yayā dharmamadharmaṃ ca
kāryaṃ cākāryameva ca
ayathāvatprajānāti
buddhiḥ sā pārtha rājasī
English transliteration yayaa dharmamadharmam cha
kaaryam chaakaaryameva cha
ayathaavatprajaanaati
buddhih saa paartha raajasee ॥ 18.31 ॥
Translation / Meaning
That intellect by which one wrongly understands dharma and adharma, and what ought to be done and what ought not to be done, O Partha, is rajasic.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यया yayā | by which |
| धर्मम् dharmam | dharma |
| अधर्मम् adharmam | adharma |
| च ca | and |
| कार्यम् kāryam | what ought to be done |
| च ca | and |
| अकार्यम् akāryam | what ought not to be done |
| एव eva | also |
| च ca | and |
| अयथावत् ayathāvat | wrongly |
| प्रजानाति prajānāti | understands |
| बुद्धिः buddhiḥ | intellect |
| सा sā | that |
| पार्थ pārtha | O Pārtha |
| राजसी rājasī | rajasic |
Word-wise Chanting
- ya–yā dhar–ma–ma–dhar–maṃ ca 8 syllables ya-yaa dhar-ma-ma-dhar-mam cha
- kār–yaṃ cā–kār–ya–me–va ca | 8 syllables kaar-yam chaa-kaar-ya-me-va cha
- a–ya–thā–vat–pra–jā–nā–ti 8 syllables a-ya-thaa-vat-pra-jaa-naa-ti
- bud–dhiḥ sā pār–tha rā–ja–sī || 18-31 8 syllables bud-dhih saa paar-tha raa-ja-see
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 31
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of intellect (18.30–18.32).
Meaning
The rājasī buddhi has a distorted view of dharma and adharma, right and wrong. It understands them ayathāvat, not as they truly are, because desire colours its judgement.
When desire is strong, we tend to justify what we want. A rajasic intellect is clever but biased.
In Practice
Notice when you are justifying something because you want it, and look again with honesty.
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.