Verse 18.24 : Moksha Sanyasa Yoga "Liberation and Renunciation"
Verse 24 of 78
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The Translation
“But that action which is performed with great effort, by one who seeks to gratify their desires, or is driven by egotism, is declared to be in the mode of passion (Rajasic).”
Commentary & Insights
Krishna describes Rajasic action. This is the work that dominates highly competitive societies, where action is driven by personal ambition and performed with intense physical and mental strain to outdo others.
Practical Application
1
Notice when you are rushing through tasks with high tension; take three deep breaths to release the physical strain.
Reflections & Notes
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Self-Reflection Prompts
- Why is Rajasic action described as requiring 'great effort' (bahula-āyāsa)? How does anxiety about the result make a task feel twice as hard?
- How does working out of pride (sa-ahaṅkāreṇa) create conflict with coworkers and partners?
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18.24
यत्तु कामेप्सुना कर्म साहंकारेण वा पुनः
Shankara comments that Rajasic action is filled with the pride of agency. The doer constantly boasts and worries about the result. Because they are driven by desire, they put in immense, stressful labor (bahula-āyāsa), which leads to exhaustion and deeper mental disturbance.