Shloka 24
भीष्मविक्रमदर्शनं तथा क्रौञ्चारुणव्यूहविधानम् | Bhīṣma’s Ascendancy and the Organization of the Krauñcāruṇa Formation
यत्तु कामेप्सुना* कर्म साहंकारेण5 वा पुनः । क्रियते बहुलायासं तद् राजसमुदाह्ृतम्
yat tu kāmepsunā karma sāhaṅkāreṇa vā punaḥ | kriyate bahulāyāsaṃ tad rājasam udāhṛtam ||
Arjuna sprach: Jene Handlung aber, die von einem vollzogen wird, der nach Sinnengenüssen verlangt, oder die erneut aus egoistischer Selbstbehauptung geschieht, und die mit großer Mühe und Anstrengung verbunden ist—eine solche Handlung wird rājasa genannt. Ethisch ist sie von Gier und Selbstdarstellung getrieben, nicht von Pflicht, die in innerer Standhaftigkeit getan wird.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Action becomes 'rajasic' when its motive is craving for enjoyment or egoistic self-importance, and when it is pursued with restless, strenuous exertion—signaling passion-driven effort rather than calm duty.
In the Bhīṣma Parva’s Bhagavadgītā teaching context, Arjuna is presenting (as part of the dialogue) the classification of actions by the three guṇas, here describing the marks of rajasic action.