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

Wika ni Vāyu: “Inilarawan ko na sa inyo sa maraming paraan ang mga katangiang nagmumula sa rajas, at ang asal na sumusunod sa mga katangiang iyon, ayon sa tunay nitong anyo. Ngunit ang taong malinaw na nakauunawa sa mga katangiang ito at laging pinananatiling gising ang kaalamang ito—O pinakadakila sa mga pantas—ay hindi nasasangkot sa buong lambat ng mga ugaling rajasic; nananatili siyang malaya sa kapangyarihang nagbubusabos ng mga iyon.”

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.