Bhagavad Gita — Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, Shloka 34

Moksha Sannyasa Yoga

Devanagari script

यया तु धर्मकामार्थान्धृत्या धारयतेऽर्जुन । प्रसङ्गेन फलाकाङ्क्षी धृतिः सा पार्थ राजसी ॥ १८.३४ ॥

Transliteration

yayā tu dharmakāmārthān dhṛtyā dhārayate 'rjuna | prasaṅgena phalākāṅkṣī dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha rājasī || 18.34 ||

Translation

That firmness, O Arjuna, by which one, attached and craving for fruits, upholds dharma, kāma (pleasure), and artha (wealth), is declared rajasic, O Pārtha.

Gita Press Meaning

But that firmness is rajasic, O Pārtha, by which one holds to dharma, pleasure, and wealth with attachment, desiring rewards.

Critical Edition Meaning

Rajasic is that steadfastness by which one clings—through attachment—to dharma, kāma, and artha, longing for the fruits (results).

Comparative Note

The triad dharma–kāma–artha reflects classical aims of life. The critique is not of these aims per se but of prasaṅga (attachment) and phalākāṅkṣā (result-craving) shaping one’s perseverance.

Word by Word

• यया: by which (by whom/with which)
• यया: Karana
• Root: यद् (स्त्री. प्रातिपदिक: या-)

• तु: but/indeed
• Root: तु

• धर्म: duty/righteousness
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)

• काम: desire/pleasure-seeking
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)

• अर्थान्: objects of pursuit; wealth/advantage (as goals)
• अर्थान्: Karma
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)

• धृत्या: by firmness/steadfastness
• धृत्या: Karana
• Root: धृति (प्रातिपदिक)

• धारयते: holds/sustains/maintains
• Root: √धृ (धारणे)

• अर्जुन: O Arjuna
• Root: अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक)

• प्रसङ्गेन: by attachment/through clinging
• प्रसङ्गेन: Karana
• Root: प्रसङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)

• फल: of result/fruit
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)

• आकाङ्क्षी: desiring/longing for
• Root: आकाङ्क्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)

• धृतिः: steadfastness/firmness
• धृतिः: Karta
• Root: धृति (प्रातिपदिक)

• सा: that
• Root: तद् (स्त्री. प्रातिपदिक: सा-)

• पार्थ: O son of Pritha
• Root: पार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)

• राजसी: rajasic (born of rajas)
• Root: राजस (प्रातिपदिक)

Speakers

• Krishna
• Arjuna

Primary Concepts

• Dhṛti (steadfastness)
• Guṇas
• Phala (fruits of action)
• Puruṣārthas (aims of life)

Key Themes

• Attachment-driven persistence
• Instrumental religiosity
• Motivation by reward

FAQs

Psychological significance?

Rajasic perseverance is strong but contingent: it persists when rewards are salient and may become anxious or controlling due to outcome-fixation.

Metaphysical meaning?

Result-craving reinforces bondage (bandha) by strengthening desire-based identification. The verse implies that perseverance aligned with liberation must be less dependent on external outcomes.

Contextual relevance?

It parallels the Gītā’s broader critique of phala-attachment: even “good” pursuits (including dharma) can bind when pursued as instruments for personal gain.

Modern Application?

It highlights the limits of purely extrinsic motivation; sustainable discipline benefits from values-based commitment rather than constant reward monitoring.