प्रवृत्तिंच निवृत्तिं च कार्याकार्ये भयाभये |
बन्धं मोक्षं च या वेत्तिबुद्धि: सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी || 30||
pravṛittiṁ cha nivṛittiṁ cha kāryākārye bhayābhaye
bandhaṁ mokṣhaṁ cha yā vetti buddhiḥ sā pārtha sāttvikī
pravṛittim—activities; cha—and; nivṛittim—renuncation from action; cha—and; kārya—proper action; akārye—improper action; bhaya—fear; abhaye—without fear; bandham—what is binding; mokṣham—what is liberating; cha—and; yā—which; vetti—understands; buddhiḥ—intellect; sā—that; pārtha—son of Pritha; sāttvikī—in the nature of goodness
Translation:
O Arjuna! That intellect that knows what is righteous action (or karma marga) and cessation of unrighteous action ( or sannyasa marga), what ought to be done and what ought not to be done, fear and fearlessness, bondage and liberation, is Sattvic.
Commentary:
The Sattvic intellect discriminates between what is good and what is bad, adopts that which is good, and gives up what is evil. So also, it discriminates between bondage and liberation, gives up the former, and follows the path of Moksha. It gives up the world which causes fear, takes to the path of Brahman, and attains fearlessness and joy. The Sattvic intellect is the highest instrument for self-realisation. Everyone should examine himself and find out whether his intellect is pure in the eyes of God. Intellect by itself however short and powerful it may be in worldly matters, does not help men to reach the highest goal.
Question: What is the nature of the Sattvic intellect?
Answer: It is capable of discriminating.
- between Dharma and Adharma.
- between what ought to be done, and what ought not to be done.
- between fear and fearlessness; and.
- between bondage and liberation.