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,परंतु जो कर्म बहुत परिश्रमसे युक्त होता हैः तथा भोगोंको चाहनेवाले पुरुषद्वारा या अहंकारययुक्त पुरुषद्वारा किया जाता है, वह कर्म राजस कहा गया है?
yat tu kāmepsunā karma sāhaṅkāreṇa vā punaḥ | kriyate bahulāyāsaṃ tad rājasam udāhṛtam ||
Arjuna said: But that action which is performed by one who longs for sense-enjoyments, or again is done with egoistic self-assertion, and which involves much strain and exertion—such action is declared to be of the quality of rajas. In ethical terms, it is driven by craving and self-display rather than by duty performed with inner steadiness.
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.