Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14, Verse 12

Chapter 14 – Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

लोभः प्रवृत्तिरारम्भः कर्मणामशमः स्पृहा ।
रजस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे भरतर्षभ ॥

Transliteration

lobhaḥ pravṛttirārambhaḥ karmaṇāmaśamaḥ spṛhā .
rajasyetāni jāyante vivṛddhe bharatarṣabha ॥

Meaning

Greed, constant activity, the undertaking of actions, restlessness and longing: these arise when rajas increases, O best of the Bharatas.

Word meanings

लोभः – greed
प्रवृत्तिः – activity, outgoing effort
आरम्भः – undertaking, initiating
कर्मणाम् – of actions
अशमः – restlessness, lack of peace
स्पृहा – longing, craving
रजसि – when rajas
एतानि – these
जायन्ते – arise
विवृद्धे – increases
भरतर्षभ – O best of the Bharatas

Anvaya (word order)

भरतर्षभ, रजसि विवृद्धे लोभः प्रवृत्तिः कर्मणाम् आरम्भः अशमः स्पृहा (च) एतानि जायन्ते ।

Explanation

Krishna now gives five signs that rajas is on the rise. The first is lobha, greed: discontent with what one has and the urge for more. Shankara adds that it includes the wish to make another's wealth one's own. The second is pravritti, ceaseless outward activity of body and mind, the restless need always to be doing something.

The third is karmanam arambhah, the undertaking of new actions and projects, particularly with an eye on their rewards. A rajasic person plans the next venture before the present one is finished. The fourth is ashama, restlessness of mind: the stream of 'I'll do this, then that' never stops. The fifth is spriha, longing for whatever one sees or hears about.

These signs are linked. Greed leads to activity, activity to new undertakings, undertakings to restlessness, and restlessness to fresh cravings. The cycle keeps a person running endlessly.

In modern life these signs are very familiar: the race to earn more, longing kindled by seeing others' possessions on social media, juggling many tasks at once, and still a lingering dissatisfaction. Recognising these symptoms lets us gauge the level of rajas in ourselves and balance it with contentment, restraint and selfless action.

Context

The previous verse gave the signs of increased sattva; this verse gives those of rajas. The next verse describes the signs of increased tamas.

Life lesson

When greed, restlessness and new cravings arise, recognise that rajas has risen. At such times, pause and practise contentment and restraint.

Key terms

Lobha: Greed, discontent with what one has
Ashama: Restlessness, absence of inner peace
Spriha: Longing for objects