Verse 18.34
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
यया तु धर्मकामार्थान्धृत्या धारयतेऽर्जुन | प्रसङ्गेन फलाकाङ्क्षी धृतिः सा पार्थ राजसी ||३४||
Transliteration (IAST)
yayā tu dharma-kāmārthān dhṛtyā dhārayate 'rjuna | prasaṅgena phalākāṅkṣī dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha rājasī ||34||
Word-by-Word Meanings
Translation
The fortitude by which one holds fast to dharma, pleasure, and wealth with attachment, craving the fruits in each case - that fortitude, O Partha, is rajasic.
Commentary
Rajasic fortitude sustains the pursuit of the three worldly goals (dharma, kāma, artha) but with attachment to their rewards. Shankaracharya explains that even dharma pursued for personal gain becomes rajasic. Madhva notes that 'prasaṅgena' (with attachment) is the key qualifier - the same activities performed without attachment would be sattvic, but desire for fruits makes the fortitude rajasic.