A core teaching · reflective in mood · a little context helps
“Restless wanting multiplies action, but never settles the mind.”
O best of the Bharatas, when rajas grows, greed, activity, the beginning of actions, restlessness, and desire arise.
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
Read literallygreed · activity, urge · beginning · of actions · restlessness, lack of peace · desire, craving · in rajas · these · are born · when increased · O best of the Bharatas
When rajas becomes strong, greed, restless activity, constant starting, and craving appear.
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga" (The Three Modes of Material Nature).
Verse 12 sits in Chapter 14 of the Bhagavad Gita — Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga, "The Three Modes of Material Nature". The chapter has 27 verses in total.
A new manager starts five projects in her first month, settles on none of them, and keeps eyeing the next promotion. Greed, restless starting and constant wanting are the marks Krishna gives for rajas, and noticing them early helps.
Did you like this verse?
Krishna lists the marks of rising rajas: greed, busy activity, fresh undertakings, restlessness and desire.
What this verse means
When rajas becomes strong, greed, restless activity, constant starting, and craving appear.
Context & commentary
Krishna explains how the three gunas shape human behavior. After describing sattva, Krishna now shows Arjuna the marks of rajas: the force that drives craving, motion, and unsettled action.
What it looks like today
A new manager starts five projects in her first month, settles on none of them, and keeps eyeing the next promotion. Greed, restless starting and constant wanting are the marks Krishna gives for rajas, and noticing them early helps.
“You can recognize agitation early, before it turns into compulsive wanting.”
Explore related themes: gunas (47 verses), rajas (21 verses)