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Bhagavad Gita · 18.30 · Yoga through the Perfection of Renunciation and Surrender·30 of 78

प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च कार्याकार्ये भयाभयेबन्धं मोक्षं च या वेत्ति बुद्धिः सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी

pravṛittiṁ cha nivṛittiṁ cha kāryākārye bhayābhaye

bandhaṁ mokṣhaṁ cha yā vetti buddhiḥ sā pārtha sāttvikī

Sanskrit recitation

Knowledge, work, and the worker · 18.29–18.40 · Teaching

Translation

The intellect which knows the path of work and renunciation, what should be done and what should not be done, fear and fearlessness, bondage and liberation—that intellect is Sattvic (pure), O Arjuna.

Meaning

The threefold nature of knowledge has been described already (verse 22 above). Now the threefold nature of the intellect is described. Knowledge is different from the intellect.Pravritti Action The cause of bondage the path of action. Nivritti Inaction The cause of liberation the path of renunciation the path of Sannyasa.Karyakarye The pure intellect knows what ought to be done and what ought not to be done at,particular places and times it knows the actions that produce visible or invisible results, that are enjoined or prohibited by the scriptures. It guides a man who relies on the scriptural ordinances for his daily conduct of life.Bhayabhaye Fear and fearlessness The cause of fear and fearlessness either visible or invisible.Bandham moksham Bondage and liberation together with their causes.Knowledge is a Vritti (function or state) of the intellect whereas intellect is what functions or undergoes the change of state. Even firmness is only a particular Vritti (modification or state) of the intellect. (Cf.XVIII.20)

After Swami Sivananda

Knowledge, work, and the worker· 18.29–18.40

Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.

Word-by-word
cha
and
that
which
bhaya
fear
vetti
understands
abhaye
without fear
kārya
proper action
akārye
improper action
bandham
what is binding
pārtha
son of Pritha
buddhiḥ
intellect
mokṣham
what is liberating
sāttvikī
in the nature of goodness
nivṛittim
renuncation from action
pravṛittim
activities

Related verses

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