Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 18 · Moksha Sannyasa Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 18.31 यया धर्ममधर्मं च कार्यं चाकार्यमेव च
श्लोक 18.31
यया धर्ममधर्मं च कार्यं चाकार्यमेव च ।
अयथावत्प्रजानाति बुद्धिः सा पार्थ राजसी ॥
yayā dharmamadharmaṃ ca kāryaṃ cākāryameva ca |
ayathāvatprajānāti buddhiḥ sā pārtha rājasī ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे पार्थ! जिस बुद्धि से मनुष्य धर्म और अधर्म, तथा कर्तव्य और अकर्तव्य को ठीक से नहीं समझ पाता, वह राजसी है।
Meaning in English
The understanding by which one judges wrongly between dharma and adharma (right and wrong), and between what should and should not be done, O Partha, is rajasic.
Bhagavad Gita 18.31 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| यया | yayā | by which |
| धर्मम् | dharmam | right |
| अधर्मम् | adharmam | wrong |
| च | ca | and |
| कार्यम् | kāryam | what should be done |
| च | ca | and |
| अकार्यम् | akāryam | what should not be done |
| एव च | eva ca | and also |
| अयथावत् | ayathāvat | incorrectly |
| प्रजानाति | prajānāti | one understands |
| बुद्धिः | buddhiḥ | understanding |
| सा | sā | that |
| पार्थ | pārtha | O son of Pritha |
| राजसी | rājasī | rajasic |
Explanation
The understanding by which one grasps right and wrong, what to do and what not to do, only in a distorted or confused way, is rajasic. It is not blind, but desire and self-interest bend its judgements, so it often gets things half right.
Shankara and Ramanuja both note that rajasic buddhi is not wholly mistaken; its failing is that it does not see things as they are. Desire colours perception, so one finds reasons for what one already wants. Modern readers compare it to motivated reasoning, a very human and common habit of mind. The remedy is to notice what one wants before judging.
भावार्थ
हे पार्थ, जिस बुद्धि से मनुष्य धर्म और अधर्म को तथा करने योग्य और न करने योग्य को ठीक-ठीक नहीं जान पाता, वह राजसी बुद्धि है।
Living it today
When the right answer happens to match exactly what you want, slow down and double-check your reasoning.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 18.31?
The understanding by which one grasps right and wrong, what to do and what not to do, only in a distorted or confused way, is rajasic. It is not blind, but desire and self-interest bend its judgements, so it often gets things half right.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 18.31?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 18 (Moksha Sannyasa Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 18.31 in daily life?
When the right answer happens to match exactly what you want, slow down and double-check your reasoning.
Reflected on verse 18.31?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.