यत्तु कामेऽप्सुना कर्म साहङ्कारेण वा पुनः।क्रियते बहुलायासं तद्राजसमुदाहृतम्।।18.24।।
yat tu kāme'psunā karma sāhaṅkāreṇa vā punaḥ kriyate bahulāyāsam tad rājasaṃ udāhṛtam
Translation
Action that is prompted by selfish desire, enacted with pride, and full of stress, is in the nature of passion.
Word Meanings
yat — that which; tu — but; kāma‑īpsunā — by one with desires for fruitive results; karma — work; sa‑ahaṅkāreṇa — with ego; vā — or; punaḥ — again; kriyate — is performed; bahula‑āyāsam — with great labor; tat — that; rājasam — in the mode of passion; udāhṛtam — is said to be
Understanding the Verse
In this verse, Lord Krishna classifies actions based on the gunas (qualities) that dominate the doer’s mind. The action described here is performed with "kām‑e'psunā," meaning it is motivated by a desire for personal gain or fruitive results. Such desire is the first seed of the mode of passion (rāga).
When the same action is carried out with "sāhaṅkāreṇa," it is done with a sense of ego‑driven pride. The doer considers the act as an expression of personal identity, believing that the accomplishment belongs uniquely to him. Pride, therefore, amplifies the selfish motive, turning a simple deed into a vehicle for self‑aggrandizement.
The phrase "punaḥ kriyate" indicates that this kind of work is repeated, not a one‑off occurrence. Repetition underlies habit formation; when desire and ego repeatedly drive an action, the mind becomes entrenched in the passionate mode. The effort is described as "bahulāyāsam," signifying that it involves great labor, strain, and stress. The doer feels burdened, anxious, and hurried, because the outcome is uncertain and the desire for a specific result creates constant agitation.
All these characteristics—desire for fruit, ego‑pride, continual effort, and stress—converge to make the action "rājasam" (of the passion mode). In the passion mode, the mind is restless, attached to pleasure, and prone to anxiety. It generates a cycle of craving, effort, and disappointment, which keeps the individual bound to samsara (the cycle of birth and death).
Krishna’s description is not a condemnation of effort per se; rather, it points out the qualitative difference between work done with pure dedication to the divine (the sattvic mode) and work driven by selfish motives (the rajasic mode). The rajasic guna leads to attachment, disappointment, and a lack of inner peace. Recognizing this distinction allows a seeker to consciously shift from passion‑driven activity to self‑less, duty‑oriented action, thereby purifying the mind and moving toward spiritual liberation.
Thus, Verse 18.24 serves as a diagnostic tool: if an activity is performed for personal gain, drenched in pride, repeatedly strained, and causes mental agitation, it belongs to the mode of passion. Awareness of this classification is the first step toward transforming one’s motives, elevating actions to a higher, more harmonious plane.
