Bhagavad Gita 14.7

Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga · English Translation

Know thou Rajas to be of the nature of passion, the source of thirst (for sensual enjoyment) and attachment; it binds fast, O Arjuna, the embodied one by attachment to action.

Sanskrit

रजो रागात्मकं विद्धि तृष्णासङ्गसमुद्भवम् | तन्निबध्नाति कौन्तेय कर्मसङ्गेन देहिनम् ||१४-७||

Transliteration

rajo rāgātmakaṃ viddhi tṛṣṇāsaṅgasamudbhavam . tannibadhnāti kaunteya karmasaṅgena dehinam ||14-7||

What Does This Verse Mean?

In this verse, Lord Krishna is explaining the nature of Rajas to Arjuna. He describes it as a mode driven by intense desire and attachment that keeps people bound to their actions. Unlike peace or wisdom, passion creates an endless cycle where one acts only for personal gain, leading to restlessness and bondage.

The Teaching Behind It

This verse belongs primarily to Sankhya philosophy as it categorizes the three gunas (modes) that constitute material nature. It also integrates Karma Yoga by identifying 'attachment to action' as the specific mechanism through which Rajas binds the soul, contrasting with selfless service.

Word by Word

रजः Rajas, रागात्मकम् of the nature of passion, विद्धि know, तृष्णासङ्गसमुद्भवम् the source of thirst and attachment, तत् that, निबध्नाति binds, कौन्तेय O son of Kunti (Arjuna), कर्मसङ्गेन by attachment to action, देहिनम् the embodied one

Classical Commentary

The ality of Rajas denotes activity and ambition. The Rajasic man is full of cravings and desires. The cravings force him to act for their fulfilment. He gets attached to those who help him in the fulfilment of his desire and hates those who stand in his way. He is attached to action. He enters on great undertakings. He performs various sorts of sacrifices and rituals and charitable activities. He runs after sensual pleasures and his desires become insatiable like a flame fed by oil. The Self is not the doer. It is the silent witness but Rajas creates in the man the idea? I am the doer. Rajas pleases the mind and keeps alive the passions. A Rajasic man is never contented. He is ever greedy and restless. The more he acires, the more passionate and greedy he becomes. Desires multiply. Nothing gives him satisfaction. If he is a millionaire, he tries to become a multimillionaire. It is like petrol poured into the fire, which inflames it further. A Rajasic man loses his understanding and power of discrimination. His understanding is clouded. He is under intoxication of the pride of wealth. His intellect is turbid. He has a perverted intellect. On account of perversion of intellect misery appears to him to be happiness pain appears to him to be pleasure sorrow appears to be joy. His goal is money and women. He worships mammon as his god. He runs after name, fame and comforts and involves himself in endless activities. Quickness has been associated with the fish, with the flash of lightning and with the glance of a woman. But Rajas is icker than these. A Rajasic man is more active than these. He thinks What will happen to me after my possessions are gone and thus worries himself unnecessarily and engages himself in endless activities. He has no peace of mind. He thirsts for what has not been attained and is attached to what has already been obtained. He wishes and tries to protect his possessions. This is Sanga. I will do such and such an action. I will get such and such a result. I will do this sacrifice. I will enjoy in heaven. This sort of clinging to action and its fruits is Karma Sanga.

Where This Happens

This teaching occurs on the battlefield of Kurukshetra during a moment of deep hesitation by Arjuna, who is overwhelmed by grief and confusion about fighting his kin. Krishna has already explained that the soul is eternal but must now address why the mind feels restless even after understanding duty. By addressing Rajas here, Krishna helps Arjuna recognize how his emotional agitation stems from attachment to personal outcomes rather than pure duty.

Living It Out Today

Consider a professional who works late into every night not because they are truly needed there, but due to an insatiable need for promotion or recognition. This 'Rajas' state creates anxiety where their self-worth becomes tied entirely to the next achievement, leading to burnout and poor health. The solution is shifting focus from the result of the work to the integrity of doing one's duty today.

Explained for Children

Imagine you have so much candy in your mouth that you can't stop eating it because you want more; that's like Rajas. It makes us feel like we need to keep playing or winning all the time just to be happy. This constant craving keeps our minds busy and stops us from feeling calm inside.

Daily Reflection

You often find yourself driven by an invisible current that pushes you toward constant activity and immediate gratification; today, pause to see if this is truly necessary or merely a habit of passion. This mode of nature feels like fuel for your ambitions, yet it quietly ties the soul to the cycle of endless striving through attachment to what we do. Notice how easily your sense of peace becomes dependent on external achievements rather than inner stillness.

A Practice for Today

Sit quietly and observe any sudden surge of desire or restlessness within you today, recognizing it not as a command to act, but as the stirring energy of Rajas. Gently acknowledge how this inner fire binds your spirit to specific outcomes, then invite yourself to release the grip on those results while remaining engaged in your duty.

Key Teachings

The Nature of Rajas
Rajas is defined by intense desire (tṛṣṇā) and attachment, acting as the engine that drives all restless activity in human life. It creates a state where one feels compelled to act not out of duty or wisdom, but from an insatiable thirst for sensory enjoyment.
The Mechanism of Binding
Unlike ignorance which clouds the mind, passion binds by creating a strong attachment (saṅga) to the fruits and processes of action itself. This linkage keeps the embodied soul trapped in a cycle where every effort generates new desires for future rewards.
The Call to Detachment
Recognizing Rajas is the first step toward liberation, as one learns to perform actions without being enslaved by the passion that initiates them. True freedom arises when action continues but the binding attachment to its outcomes dissolves.

Themes

The Three GunasAttachment to ActionPassion and DesireBondage of the SoulMental DisciplineSelfless Duty

Related Verses

2.47 3.30 4.18 6.5 18.66

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'tṛṣṇāsaṅgasamudbhavam' mean in this verse?

This Sanskrit phrase translates to 'born of thirst and attachment.' It explains that the mode of Rajas originates from an insatiable desire (thirst) for sensory pleasures or material gains, which creates a strong emotional bond (attachment) to those objects.

How does Rajas differ from Tamas in terms of binding?

While both bind the soul, Rajas binds through active agitation and attachment to action driven by desire for results. In contrast, Tamas (ignorance) binds through inertia, delusion, and a lack of motivation or understanding.

How does attachment to action lead to suffering?

Attachment causes the mind to become restless because it constantly seeks future rewards. When actions are performed solely for personal gain or specific outcomes, any failure leads to despair and any success creates a craving for more, trapping the individual in a cycle of dissatisfaction.

In Other Languages: Bhagavad Gita 14.7 →