Chapter 18, Verse 24 (Bhagavad Gita 18.24)
Chapter 18: Mokṣha Sanyās Yog – Yoga through the Perfection of Renunciation and Surrender
Sanskrit Shloka
यत्तु कामेप्सुना कर्म साहङ्कारेण वा पुनः।क्रियते बहुलायासं तद्राजसमुदाहृतम्
Transliteration
yat tu kāmepsunā karma sāhankāreṇa vā punaḥ kriyate bahulāyāsaṁ tad rājasam udāhṛitam
Word Meanings
yat—which; tu—but; kāma-īpsunā—prompted by selfish desire; karma—action; sa-ahaṅkāreṇa—with pride; vā—or; punaḥ—again; kriyate—enacted; bahula-āyāsam—stressfully; tat—that; rājasam—in the nature of passion; udāhṛitam—is said to be
Translation
But that action which is performed by one seeking the fulfillment of desires, with a sense of egotism, and with much effort, is declared to be Rajasic.
Meaning & Commentary
In this verse, Bhagwan Shri Krishna illuminates the nature of passion-driven activity that binds the soul to the cycle of samsara. When a seeker acts with deep attachment to the fruits of their labor and a hardened ego, the divine grace of selfless service is obstructed. Yogeshwar Krishna warns that such excessive, self-centered effort disturbs the internal equilibrium and keeps the consciousness anchored in worldly gains. To transcend this state, the seeker must learn to offer all actions as a sacrifice to the Supreme Lord. By shifting the focus from 'I' to 'Krishna', the soul gradually moves from the restlessness of the Rajasic guna toward the serene liberation of pure devotion.