Verse 14.7
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
रजो रागात्मकं विद्धि तृष्णासङ्गसमुद्भवम् | तन्निबध्नाति कौन्तेय कर्मसङ्गेन देहिनम् ||७||
Transliteration (IAST)
rajo rāgātmakaṁ viddhi tṛṣṇā-saṅga-samudbhavam | tan nibadhnāti kaunteya karma-saṅgena dehinam ||7||
Word-by-Word Meanings
rajaḥ-the mode of passion
rāga-ātmakam-of the nature of passion/desire
tṛṣṇā-craving/thirst
saṅga-attachment
samudbhavam-arising from
karma-saṅgena-by attachment to action
dehinam-the embodied soul
Translation
Know that Rajas is of the nature of passion, arising from craving and attachment. It binds the embodied soul by attachment to action, O son of Kunti.
Commentary
Shankaracharya explains that Rajas manifests as desire and attachment, driving the soul to ceaseless activity. The binding mechanism is karma-saṅga - the soul becomes attached to the fruits of action and thus remains in bondage. Ramanuja notes that Rajas creates an endless cycle of desire, action, and further desire.
Themes
karmajnana
Related Verses
karma1 verse