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

梵天说道：“诸位德行最胜的大仙啊，我今将依真实而为汝等宣说：罗阇斯（rajas）的本性，以及由其所生的诸种性质。大福德者啊，当专心谛听那属于罗阇斯气质的行为与运作。”

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.