Shloka 12

Adhyāya 41 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Gurv-anumati and Strategic Counsel (युधिष्ठिरस्य गुर्वनुमतिः)

Devanagari script

लोभ: प्रवृत्तिरारम्भ: कर्मणामशम: स्पृहा । रजस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे भरतर्षभ,हे अर्जुन रजोगुणके बढ़नेपर लोभ प्रवृत्ति, स्वार्थबुद्धिसे कर्मोंका सकामभावसे आरम्भ, अशान्ति और विषयभोगोंकी लालसा--ये सब उत्पन्न होते हैं*

Transliteration

lobhaḥ pravṛttir ārambhaḥ karmaṇām aśamaḥ spṛhā | rajasy etāni jāyante vivṛddhe bharatarṣabha ||

Translation

Arjuna said: When rajas grows strong, it gives rise to greed, restless activity, the self-interested undertaking of actions for their fruits, inner unrest, and craving for sense-enjoyments. These are the marks of rajas in increase.

Word by Word

लोभःgreed

प्रवृत्तिःactivity; engagement

आरम्भःundertaking; beginning

कर्मणाम्of actions

अशमःrestlessness; lack of calm

स्पृहाcraving; longing

रजसिin rajas (the quality of passion)

एतानिthese

जायन्तेare born; arise

विवृद्धेwhen increased; upon increase

भरतर्षभO bull among the Bharatas

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna (speaker)

Bharatarṣabha (addressee epithet, typically Krishna in the Gita context)

rajas (rajo-guṇa)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse lists the observable outcomes of intensified rajas: greed, restless engagement, self-driven initiation of actions, inner agitation, and craving for sense-objects. Ethically, it warns that passion-dominance pushes one toward desire-led action and away from calm discernment.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Gita’s teaching on the three guṇas, Arjuna asks about their signs. This verse answers by describing how rajas manifests in conduct and mental states, helping the listener recognize passion-driven tendencies in oneself.