लोभ: प्रवृत्तिरारम्भ: कर्मणामशम: स्पृहा |
रजस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे भरतर्षभ || 12||
lobhaḥ pravṛittir ārambhaḥ karmaṇām aśhamaḥ spṛihā
rajasy etāni jāyante vivṛiddhe bharatarṣhabha
lobhaḥ—greed; pravṛittiḥ—activity; ārambhaḥ—exertion; karmaṇām—for fruitive actions; aśhamaḥ—restlessness; spṛihā—craving; rajasi—of the mode of passion; etāni—these; jāyante—develop; vivṛiddhe—when predominates; bharata-ṛiṣhabha—the best of the Bharatas, Arjun;
Translation:
Greed, activity, enterprise, unrest, longing— these arise, Ο lord of the Bhāratas, when rajas prevails.
Commentary:
When Rajo-guna dominates, man burdens himself with a hundred kinds of activities. The result is he is restless. Greed and longing urge him to undertake many actions for the fulfillment of his desires. These desires are sometimes selfish and prohibited by the Sastras. Longing for objects drives him into acts of evil and sin. He employs tricks and stratagems to realise his ambitions. He has no regard for truth. His mind is externalised. He has no introspection. He is like the ocean troubled by a tempest. His words are harsh and proud. He walks unsteadily because of his mental restlessness. His mind is full of desire for this and that. So he lives a life of passion, and does not know what is peace and real joy. Ravana is an example of Rajoguna. Rajo-guna, therefore, leads to evil and self-destruction. It should be overcome by perseverance and firm effort. Peace and joy cannot be found in Rajo-guna.
Question: What is the nature of man dominated by Rajo-guna?
Answer: Greed, activity, undertakings (prompted by desire and prohibited by the Sastras), restlessness, longing for worldly enjoyments are the qualities of the Rajasic man.
Question: Who attains peace?
Answer: He who has freed himself from Rajas and Tamas.
Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 14 🔻 (27 Verses)
