Bhagavad Gita — Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, Shloka 21

Moksha Sannyasa Yoga

Devanagari script

पृथक्त्वेन तु यज्ज्ञानं नानाभावान्पृथग्विधान् । वेत्ति सर्वेषु भूतेषु तज्ज्ञानं विद्धि राजसम् ॥ १८.२१ ॥

Transliteration

pṛthaktvena tu yaj jñānaṁ nānābhāvān pṛthagvidhān | vetti sarveṣu bhūteṣu taj jñānaṁ viddhi rājasam || 18.21 ||

Translation

Pero el conocimiento por el cual se conoce en todos los seres la multiplicidad de estados diversos, separados unos de otros: sabe que ese conocimiento es rajásico.

Gita Press Meaning

परन्तु जिस ज्ञान के द्वारा मनुष्य समस्त प्राणियों में नाना प्रकार के पृथक्-पृथक् भावों को अलग-अलग देखता है, उस ज्ञान को राजस जानो।

Critical Edition Meaning

But that knowledge which, in all beings, knows the various states as distinct and of different kinds—know that knowledge to be rajasic.

Comparative Note

Traditional glosses often treat rajasic knowledge as overemphasis on difference leading to attachment and rivalry. Academic-literal readings describe it as cognition that apprehends plurality and separateness; the evaluative dimension (why it is ‘rajasic’) is inferred from the broader guṇa framework.

Word by Word

• पृथक्त्वेन: by separateness; through the notion of distinctness
• पृथक्त्वेन: करण
• Root: पृथक्त्व

• तु: but; indeed
• Root: तु

• यत्: which
• Root: यद्

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: कर्ता
• Root: ज्ञान

• नानाभावान्: diverse states/conditions; manifold entities
• नानाभावान्: कर्म
• Root: नानाभाव

• पृथक्: separately; as distinct
• Root: पृथक्

• विधान्: as different kinds; as separate varieties
• विधान्: कर्म
• Root: विध

• वेत्ति: knows; cognizes
• Root: √विद् (जानने)

• सर्वेषु: in all
• सर्वेषु: अधिकरण
• Root: सर्व

• भूतेषु: in beings; in creatures
• भूतेषु: अधिकरण
• Root: भूत

• तत्: that
• Root: तद्

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: कर्म
• Root: ज्ञान

• विद्धि: know (you); understand
• Root: √विद् (जानने)

• राजसम्: rajasic; belonging to rajas
• Root: राजस

Speakers

• Krishna

Primary Concepts

• Rajas
• Jñāna
• Plurality vs unity

Key Themes

• Fragmented cognition
• Categorization and difference
• Motivated perception

FAQs

Psychological significance?

Rajasic knowledge prioritizes distinctions—types, roles, comparisons—which can be useful for practical tasks but may also fuel restlessness, competitiveness, and attachment to outcomes.

Metaphysical meaning?

It represents a standpoint that treats plurality as primary and does not (or cannot) see an underlying unity as decisive; thus it remains within the domain of differentiated phenomena.

Contextual relevance?

It contrasts with the previous verse’s integrative sattvic vision, showing how guṇa-conditioning shapes what counts as ‘knowledge’.

Modern Application?

It can describe analytic but divisive thinking—e.g., reducing people to categories. The Gītā’s framing invites balancing necessary differentiation with a unifying ethical outlook.