Verse 14.12
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
लोभः प्रवृत्तिरारम्भः कर्मणामशमः स्पृहा | रजस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे भरतर्षभ ||१२||
Transliteration (IAST)
lobhaḥ pravṛttir ārambhaḥ karmaṇām aśamaḥ spṛhā | rajasy etāni jāyante vivṛddhe bharatarṣabha ||12||
Word-by-Word Meanings
lobhaḥ-greed
pravṛttiḥ-activity/restlessness
ārambhaḥ-undertaking/initiative
karmaṇām-of actions
aśamaḥ-restlessness/lack of peace
spṛhā-desire/longing
vivṛddhe-when predominant
Translation
Greed, activity, the undertaking of actions, restlessness, and longing - these arise when Rajas is predominant, O best of the Bharatas.
Commentary
Shankaracharya explains that the signs of Rajas are unmistakable: the person is driven by greed, constantly initiating new projects, unable to find peace, and always craving more. Ramanuja notes that the rajasic person mistakes feverish activity for productivity and cannot distinguish between purposeful action and mere restlessness.
Themes
karmajnana