Verse-24
Chapter 18 — Moksha Sanyasa Yoga
Verse 24
🕉 Original Sanskrit Shloka
yattu kāmepsunā karma sāhaṅkāreṇa vā punaḥ
kriyate bahulāyāsaṁ tadrājasamudāhṛtam
🕉 English Translation
Phal ichha rakh kar kiya jo karma,
Laga jisme ho khub hee parishram.
Ahankar mein bhar kar kiya jata jo,
Kehte hain rajas usi karma ko.
📜 Translation
English
But the action which is undertaken with the desire for gratification or done with egoism with much effort-that has been termed as rajas.
To work with the sense of labouring is not undesirable; it is good to make effort through the body. The body is the power of activity. Something should be done through it! Inactivity and inaction have no place in the inspirations from the Gita. One should strive but not to the extent that there should be injustice to physical capacities. Therefore, excessive effort has been taken in the category of rajasic action.
Excessive effort and accompanied by the egoistic feeling! I am the doer, and if I abstain from doing it then I will see how it is accomplished-this is rajasic tendency. Along with it are various desires for gratification. This should be acquired, that should be gained-all the time this obsession! When the obsession with desires persists, then for their fulfilment more effort will be made day and night. This is the state of rajasic action.