Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 24

Chapter 18 – Moksha Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

यत्तु कामेप्सुना कर्म साहंकारेण वा पुनः ।
क्रियते बहुलायासं तद्राजसमुदाहृतम् ॥

Transliteration

yattu kāmepsunā karma sāhaṃkāreṇa vā punaḥ .
kriyate bahulāyāsaṃ tadrājasamudāhṛtam ॥

Meaning

But action done by one seeking to fulfil desires, or by one full of ego, and performed with great strain, is declared to be rajasic.

Word meanings

यत् – which
तु – but
कामेप्सुना – by one seeking desires
कर्म – action
साहंकारेण – by one with ego
वा – or
पुनः – again
क्रियते – is done
बहुलायासम् – with great strain and effort
तत् – that
राजसम् – rajasic
उदाहृतम् – is declared

Anvaya (word order)

यत् तु कर्म कामेप्सुना साहंकारेण वा पुनः बहुलायासं क्रियते, तत् राजसम् उदाहृतम् ।

Explanation

Three marks of rajasic action are given. The first is kamepsuna — it is done to satisfy some desire: wealth, position, fame, pleasure or the wish to impress. Action is the means, desire-fulfilment the goal. Until the goal is reached the mind is restless; when it is reached a new desire is born.

The second is sahankarena — performed with ego. The doer constantly thinks, 'I am doing this; it is happening through my ability; let people recognise me.' Shankara clarifies that sahankara here means not merely lack of Self-knowledge but the desire to display one's importance before the world.

The third is bahulayasam — great strain and stress. This is a telling observation. Sattvic action also involves effort, but that effort is natural and cheerful. Rajasic action is strained, because the mind becomes exhausted by anxiety about results, the pressure of competition and the defence of ego. Much of today's burnout stems from this rajasic style of work.

It should be remembered that rajasic action is not evil; many of the world's achievements come from it. But it brings bondage and restlessness. The Gita's way is to take this same energy and make it sattvic by freeing it from attachment and ego.

Context

The previous verse described sattvic action. This verse describes rajasic action. The next verse (18.25) describes tamasic action.

Life lesson

Notice the stress and exhaustion in your work — often the cause is not the work but desire and ego. Let service and duty, rather than display or rivalry, be your motivation. Then effort becomes joy instead of burden.

Key terms

Rajasic karma: Strained action driven by desire and ego
Kamepsu: One who seeks to fulfil desires
Sahankara: Accompanied by ego
Bahulayasa: Great strain and exertion