Shloka 1

Rajo-guṇa-nirdeśa — Brahmā’s Enumeration of Rajasic Dispositions

Devanagari script

अपना बछ। हर: सप्तत्रिशो5ध्याय: रजोगुणके कार्यका वर्णन और उसके जाननेका फल ब्रह्मोवाच रजोऊ5हं व: प्रवक्ष्यामि याथातथ्येन सत्तमा: । निबोधत महाभागा गुणवृत्तं च राजसम्‌

Transliteration

brahmovāca | rajo’ham vaḥ pravakṣyāmi yāthātathyena sattamāḥ | nibodhata mahābhāgā guṇavṛttaṃ ca rājasam ||

Translation

ब्रह्मा ने कहा—हे सद्गुणसम्पन्न श्रेष्ठ महर्षियो! अब मैं तुमसे यथार्थ रूप से रजोगुण का स्वरूप और उससे उत्पन्न होने वाले गुणों का वर्णन करूँगा। हे महाभागो! रजस के आचरण और प्रवृत्ति को ध्यान देकर सुनो।

Word by Word

• {'brahmovāca': '‘Brahmā said’ (speaker tag)', 'rajas (rajo-guṇa)': 'the quality of passion/activity

• the guṇa that impels motion, desire, striving', 'aham': 'I', 'vaḥ': 'to you (plural)', 'pravakṣyāmi': 'I will explain, I will expound', 'yāthātathyena': 'according to truth/reality

• as it actually is', 'sattamāḥ': 'O best among the good/virtuous (vocative plural)', 'nibodhata': 'understand

• listen and grasp (imperative plural)', 'mahābhāgāḥ': 'O greatly fortunate/noble ones (vocative plural)', 'guṇavṛttam': 'the functioning/behavior (vṛtti) of the guṇas

• mode of operation', 'rājasam': 'pertaining to rajas

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse introduces a doctrinal explanation of rajas: Brahmā announces that he will describe, truthfully and systematically, the nature and operational traits (guṇavṛtti) of the rājasa disposition—i.e., how passion-driven activity shapes conduct and outcomes.

What is happening in the narrative?

A didactic dialogue is underway: Brahmā addresses a group of eminent sages, calling them to attentive listening, and begins a section devoted to defining rajo-guṇa and its effects.