पृथक्त्वेन तु यज्ज्ञानं नानाभावान्पृथग्विधान् ।
वेत्ति सर्वेषु भूतेषु तज्ज्ञानं विद्धि राजसम् ॥
वेत्ति सर्वेषु भूतेषु तज्ज्ञानं विद्धि राजसम् ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
परन्तु जो ज्ञान अर्थात् जिस ज्ञानके द्वारा मनुष्य सम्पूर्ण प्राणियोंमें अलगअलग अनेक भावोंको अलगअलग रूपसे जानता है, उस ज्ञानको तुम राजस समझो ॥
English
But know that knowledge as rajasic by which one sees many different beings as separate and distinct in all beings.
What this verse means
Knowledge that only notices differences and treats every being as separate is restless and driven by ego.
Context & commentary
On the Kurukshetra field, Krishna continues explaining the three kinds of understanding after Arjuna’s collapse. He contrasts the clear vision that sees unity with the restless mind that only sorts beings into separate pieces. This verse names that divided seeing as rajasic.
Why this verse still matters
You meet someone new and instantly reduce them to labels, roles, and differences. The mind feels precise, but it is only chopping reality into pieces and calling that insight.
The takeaway
You can stop mistaking sharp division for real understanding.
Word-by-word translation
पृथक्त्वेन (by separateness) / तु (but) / यत् (which) / ज्ञानम् (knowledge) / नानाभावान् (many states/traits) / पृथग्विधान् (separately formed) / वेत्ति (knows) / सर्वेषु भूतेषु (in all beings) / तत् (that) / ज्ञानम् (knowledge) / विद्धि (know) / राजसम् (rajasic)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18: Moksha Sanyasa Yoga — Liberation through Renunciation, which contains 78 verses.
Explore related themes: gunas (47 verses), buddhi (26 verses), rajas (21 verses)