Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 29

Chapter 18 – Moksha Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

बुद्धेर्भेदं धृतेश्चैव गुणतस्त्रिविधं शृणु ।
प्रोच्यमानमशेषेण पृथक्त्वेन धनञ्जय ॥

Transliteration

buddherbhedaṃ dhṛteścaiva guṇatastrividhaṃ śṛṇu .
procyamānamaśeṣeṇa pṛthaktvena dhanañjaya ॥

Meaning

Hear now, O Dhananjaya, the threefold distinction of intellect and also of fortitude according to the gunas, which I shall explain fully and separately.

Word meanings

बुद्धेः – of the intellect
भेदम् – distinction
धृतेः – of fortitude
च एव – and also
गुणतः – according to the gunas
त्रिविधम् – threefold
शृणु – hear
प्रोच्यमानम् – being explained
अशेषेण – fully
पृथक्त्वेन – separately
धनञ्जय – O winner of wealth (Arjuna)

Anvaya (word order)

धनञ्जय, बुद्धेः धृतेः च एव गुणतः त्रिविधं भेदम् अशेषेण पृथक्त्वेन प्रोच्यमानं शृणु ।

Explanation

After knowledge, action and doer, Krishna announces the threefold classification of two more inner faculties — buddhi, intellect, and dhriti, fortitude. These two form the backbone of a person's character. Buddhi is the faculty that decides: what should be done and what should not, what is right and what is wrong. Dhriti is the power that holds to that decision, the steadiness to persist in it amid difficulty.

The two are closely related. Without a sound intellect, fortitude becomes stubbornness — clinging firmly to what is wrong. Without fortitude, intellect remains fruitless — one knows what is right but cannot follow it. Arjuna's crisis was at both levels: first his intellect was clouded by delusion, then his fortitude collapsed and his bow slipped from his hand (1.30).

Asheshena prithaktvena — fully and separately — indicates that Krishna will present this subject with great clarity, so that the seeker can assess his own intellect and fortitude. The address Dhananjaya, 'winner of wealth', recalls the victorious strength that Arjuna's firm resolve had made possible in the past.

Context

The preceding verses (18.26–28) described the three kinds of doer. This verse introduces the analysis of intellect and fortitude. The next three verses (18.30–32) describe the three kinds of intellect, followed by the three kinds of fortitude (18.33–35).

Life lesson

Both the intelligence to decide rightly and the fortitude to stay with that decision are essential. Knowing is not enough; one must also walk steadily in what one knows. Keep cultivating both your power of judgement and your power of resolve.

Key terms

Buddhi: The faculty of judgement and discrimination
Dhriti: Fortitude; the power that sustains a decision
Dhananjaya: Winner of wealth — Arjuna