Gita 14.12

Chapter 14: The Three Gunas

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Gita 14.12
लोभः प्रवृत्तिरारम्भः कर्मणामशमः स्पृहा। रजस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे भरतर्षभ॥

lobhaḥ pravṛttir ārambhaḥ karmaṇām aśamaḥ spṛhā rajasy etāni jāyante vivṛddhe bharatarṣabha

"Greed, activity, undertaking of actions, restlessness, longing—these arise when rajas is predominant, O best of the Bharatas."

What This Means:

When rajas dominates, you experience greed (wanting more), constant activity, compulsive starting of projects, restlessness (inability to be still), and longing (craving what you don't have).

Going Deeper:

Five signs of rajas: (1) lobha—greed, acquisitiveness, (2) pravṛtti—activity, busyness, (3) ārambhaḥ karmaṇām—undertaking new actions/projects, (4) aśamaḥ—restlessness, inability to be peaceful, (5) spṛhā—longing, desire. The rajasic person is always moving, always wanting, never satisfied with what is.

How To Apply This:

When you're constantly checking your phone, starting new projects before finishing old ones, or feeling like you need 'more'—recognize rajas. Pause. Ask: 'What am I really seeking?' Often it's peace, which busyness can't provide.

Key Sanskrit Terms:

lobhaḥ= greedpravṛttiḥ= activityaśamaḥ= restlessnessspṛhā= longing, desire