Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

रजोगुणा वो बहुधानुकीर्तिता यथाददुक्तं गुणवृत्तमेव च । नरो5पि यो वेद गुणानिमान्‌ सदा स राजसै: सर्वगुणैरविमुच्यते

Transliteration

rajoguṇā vo bahudhānukīrtitā yathāvad uktaṃ guṇavṛttam eva ca | naro 'pi yo veda guṇān imān sadā sa rājasaiḥ sarvaguṇair avimucyate, munivara ||

Translation

ヴァーユは言った。「私は、ラジャス（rajas）より生ずる諸々の性質と、それに随って現れる行いとを、ありのままに、さまざまな仕方で汝らに説き明かした。だが、これらの性質を明らかに理解し、その知を常に心に現前させている者は――おお、最勝の牟尼よ――ラジャス的性向の全き網に絡め取られることはない。彼はその縛する力から解き放たれている。」

Word by Word

• {'rajo-guṇāḥ': 'the qualities of rajas (passion, agitation, desire-driven energy)', 'bahudhā': 'in many ways

• variously', 'anukīrtitāḥ': 'recounted

• described in detail', 'yathāvat': 'as it really is

• in due manner', 'uktaṃ': 'said

• stated', 'guṇa-vṛttam': 'the behavior/conduct arising from the guṇas', 'eva': 'indeed

• precisely', 'naraḥ': 'a person

• man', 'yo veda': 'who knows

• who understands', 'imān guṇān': 'these qualities', 'sadā': 'always

• continually', 'rājasaiḥ sarva-guṇaiḥ': 'by all rajasic qualities (collectively)', 'avimucyate': 'is not released / is not freed (contextually: is not bound

• remains unentangled)', 'munivara': 'O best of sages'}

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva
• munivara (a sage addressed)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Knowing the nature of rajasic qualities and the behaviors they generate helps a person avoid being trapped by them; clear discernment becomes a means of inner freedom from passion-driven bondage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva addresses a sage, concluding or summarizing an explanation of rajasic traits and their corresponding conduct, and states the ethical result: sustained understanding of these traits prevents one from being bound by them.