Verse 18.34
यया तु धर्मकामार्थान्धृत्या धारयतेऽर्जुन ।
प्रसङ्गेन फलाकाङ्क्षी धृतिः सा पार्थ राजसी ॥
Transliteration
yayā tu dharmakāmārthāndhṛtyā dhārayate'rjuna |
prasaṅgena phalākāṅkṣī dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha rājasī ||
By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · @indic-transliteration/sanscript 1.3.3
Translation
But that, O Arjuna, by which, on account of attachment and desire for reward, one holds fast to Dharma (duty), enjoyment of pleasures and earning of wealth that firmness, O Arjuna, is Rajasic (passionate).
From the owner's sheet · +1 more
But the steadiness by which one holds on to dharma, pleasure and wealth, Arjuna, desiring their fruits out of attachment, son of Pritha, is 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 steadiness holds firmly to dharma, pleasure and wealth, three traditional aims of life, but does so out of attachment and craving for their fruits. Such firmness can be strong and persistent, yet it is bound to the desire for reward. The verse is subtle: even dharma can be pursued with a grasping attitude. The difference from sattvic steadiness lies not in the goals alone but in whether one holds them for their own sake or for what they bring.
By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · claude-opus-5-5 · 2026-11-08