Verse 18.21
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
पृथक्त्वेन तु यज्ज्ञानं नानाभावान्पृथग्विधान् | वेत्ति सर्वेषु भूतेषु तज्ज्ञानं विद्धि राजसम् ||२१||
Transliteration (IAST)
pṛthaktvena tu yaj jñānaṁ nānā-bhāvān pṛthag-vidhān | vetti sarveṣu bhūteṣu taj jñānaṁ viddhi rājasam ||21||
Word-by-Word Meanings
Translation
That knowledge which sees in all beings diverse entities of distinct kinds, separate from one another - know that knowledge to be rajasic.
Commentary
Rajasic knowledge perceives only multiplicity and difference. Shankaracharya explains that seeing each being as fundamentally separate - each with its own distinct nature unrelated to others - is a partial and passionate view. It recognizes diversity but misses the underlying unity. Ramanuja notes this corresponds to materialistic knowledge that categorizes without perceiving the divine thread connecting all.