प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च कार्याकार्ये भयाभये ।
बन्धं मोक्षं च या वेत्ति बुद्धिः सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी ॥
बन्धं मोक्षं च या वेत्ति बुद्धिः सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे पृथानन्दन जो बुद्धि प्रवृत्ति और निवृत्तिको, कर्तव्य और अकर्तव्यको, भय और अभयको तथा बन्धन और मोक्षको जानती है, वह बुद्धि सात्त्विकी है ॥
English
O Partha, the intellect that knows what leads forward and what withdraws, what should be done and not done, what is fear and fearlessness, what binds and what frees, is sattvic.
What this verse means
A clear mind can tell the difference between action and withdrawal, right and wrong action, fear and fearlessness, bondage and freedom.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna stands unable to act. Krishna now classifies the powers of understanding, showing that the highest intellect can distinguish duty from non-duty, fear from fearlessness, and bondage from freedom.
Why this verse still matters
You are staring at a message you know will change everything. The real question is not what feels safer, but whether your mind can see what binds and what frees.
The takeaway
You do not need more noise; you need better seeing.
Word-by-word translation
प्रवृत्तिम् (forward action) / च (and) / निवृत्तिम् (withdrawal) / च (and) / कार्याकार्ये (what should be done and what should not be done) / भयाभये (fear and fearlessness) / बन्धम् (bondage) / मोक्षम् (freedom) / च (and) / या (which) / वेत्ति (knows) / बुद्धिः (intellect) / सा (that) / पार्थ (O Partha) / सात्त्विकी (sattvic)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18: Moksha Sanyasa Yoga — Liberation through Renunciation, which contains 78 verses.
Explore related themes: viveka (15 verses)