Chapter 14, Verse 12 (Bhagavad Gita 14.12)
Chapter 14: Guṇa Traya Vibhāg Yog – Yoga through Understanding the Three Modes of Material Nature
Sanskrit Shloka
लोभः प्रवृत्तिरारम्भः कर्मणामशमः स्पृहा।रजस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे भरतर्षभ
Transliteration
lobhaḥ pravṛittir ārambhaḥ karmaṇām aśhamaḥ spṛihā rajasy etāni jāyante vivṛiddhe bharatarṣhabha
Word Meanings
lobhaḥ—greed; pravṛittiḥ—activity; ārambhaḥ—exertion; karmaṇām—for fruitive actions; aśhamaḥ—restlessness; spṛihā—craving; rajasi—of the mode of passion; etāni—these; jāyante—develop; vivṛiddhe—when predominates; bharata-ṛiṣhabha—the best of the Bharatas, Arjun;
Translation
Greed, intense activity, the undertaking of worldly projects, restlessness, and deep longing—these symptoms manifest when the mode of passion, Rajas, becomes predominant, O best of the Bharatas, Arjuna.
Meaning & Commentary
In this verse, Bhagwan Shri Krishna reveals the psychological anatomy of the mode of passion, which binds the soul to the cycle of material desire. When Rajas dominates, the jiva becomes tethered to the endless pursuit of external results, causing the mind to lose its natural repose. Shri Krishna explains that this state is characterized by an insatiable hunger for achievement and the frantic energy of selfish endeavors. By identifying these traits, the Supreme Lord invites the seeker to recognize their own internal state and transcend this agitation. Ultimately, Shri Krishna teaches that liberation begins with the discernment of these gunas, guiding the sincere devotee toward the tranquility of Sattva and beyond, toward surrender unto His eternal lotus feet.