Verse 18.24
यत्तु कामेप्सुना कर्म साहङ्कारेण वा पुनः ।
क्रियते बहुलायासं तद्राजसमुदाहृतम् ॥
Transliteration
yattu kāmepsunā karma sāhaṅkāreṇa vā punaḥ |
kriyate bahulāyāsaṃ tadrājasamudāhṛtam ||
By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · @indic-transliteration/sanscript 1.3.3
Translation
But that action which is done by one longing for the fulfilment of desires or gain with egoism or with much effort that is declared to be Rajasic (passionate).
From the owner's sheet · +1 more
But action done with great strain by one who seeks to fulfil desires, or by one full of ego, is called rajasic.
By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · claude-opus-5-5 · 2026-11-08 · +1 more
Word by word
By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · claude-opus-5-5 · 2026-11-08
Explanation
Rajasic action is done by one who seeks to satisfy desires or who acts from ego, and it involves great strain. The verse shows that effort alone is not a virtue. Action driven by desire and self-importance is often exhausting, because it is tied to outcomes and to the need for recognition. The contrast with sattvic action is not in how much is done, but in the spirit and inner state from which it springs.
By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · claude-opus-5-5 · 2026-11-08