Chapter 18, Verse 31 (Bhagavad Gita 18.31)
Chapter 18: Mokṣha Sanyās Yog – Yoga through the Perfection of Renunciation and Surrender
Sanskrit Shloka
यया धर्ममधर्मं च कार्यं चाकार्यमेव च।अयथावत्प्रजानाति बुद्धिः सा पार्थ राजसी
Transliteration
yayā dharmam adharmaṁ cha kāryaṁ chākāryam eva cha ayathāvat prajānāti buddhiḥ sā pārtha rājasī
Word Meanings
yayā—by which; dharmam—righteousness; adharmam—unrighteousness; cha—and; kāryam—right conduct; cha—and; akāryam—wrong conduct; eva—certainly; cha—and; ayathā-vat—confused; prajānāti—distinguish; buddhiḥ—intellect; sā—that; pārtha—Arjun, the son of Pritha; rājasī—in the mode of passion
Translation
O Arjuna, that intellect by which one fails to correctly discern dharma and adharma, as well as what ought to be done and what ought not to be done, is known as rajasic.
Meaning & Commentary
In this verse, Bhagwan Shri Krishna reveals the limitations of the passionate, rajasic intellect. When the mind is clouded by the turbulence of desire and attachment, the clarity required to distinguish between righteous action and unrighteous conduct is lost. Shri Krishna warns that such an intellect is driven by ego and subjective preference rather than divine truth or scriptural wisdom. By guiding Arjuna, Lord Krishna illuminates the path for every soul to transcend this state of confusion through devotion and surrender. Ultimately, the Supreme Lord invites the seeker to purify the intellect so that it may mirror His divine consciousness, allowing one to perceive His eternal dharma clearly.