Verse-37
Chapter 3 — Karma Yoga
Verse 37
🕉 Original Sanskrit Shloka
Shree Bhagavaanuvaacha
kama esa krodha esa rajogunasamudbhavah
mahasano mahapapma viddhyenamiha varinam
🕉 English Translation
📜 Translation
English
The Blessed Lord said: The desire originating from the quality of rajoguna is wrath, and the great devourer, meaning that which is never satiated by indulgence and all sinful. This is the enemy here.
The deliverer of the Gita sermon is replying to this question after great deliberations and in a logical manner. The Lord had already declared attachment and aversion as the foe of the seeker. Here the reference is towards desire and wrath. Both these words are the extensions of attachments and aversions. In favourability there is attachment and from attachment the origination of desire. In unfavourability aversion and aversion itself becomes the cause of wrath. If rajoguna predominates in life then obsession with desires and outward-going activities will continue. If there is obsession with the fulfilment of desire then man will not hesitate in using unfair and illegal means as well. Lord Shri Krishna therefore uses the words mahanashano mahapapma. All devouring and never satiated the desire is. Whatever cravings are there they are never satiated. It is the root of all evils. Know it to be your adversary. Whatever carries you towards the life-giving Lord is your friend and whatever takes you away from Him is your enemy.