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.
— Krishna
❋
Bhagavad Gita · 18.30
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 ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
प्रवृत्तिम्forward actionचandनिवृत्तिम्withdrawalचandकार्याकार्येwhat should be done and what should not be doneभयाभयेfear and fearlessnessबन्धम्bondageमोक्षम्freedomचandयाwhichवेत्तिknowsबुद्धिःintellectसाthatपार्थO Parthaसात्त्विकीsattvic
Read literallyforward action · and · withdrawal · and · what should be done and what should not be done · fear and fearlessness · bondage · freedom · and · which · knows · intellect · that · O Partha · sattvic
Understanding the verse
✦
Sattvic buddhi knows when to act and when to hold back, what to fear, and what binds or frees.
A clear mind can tell the difference between action and withdrawal, right and wrong action, fear and fearlessness, bondage and freedom.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
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.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
A woman weighing whether to leave a stable job to look after her ageing mother needs more than courage. Krishna describes sattvic understanding: knowing what should be done, what should not, and which choice binds or frees.
The takeaway
“You do not need more noise; you need better seeing.”
A clear mind can tell the difference between action and withdrawal, right and wrong action, fear and fearlessness, bondage and freedom.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 18.30?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Moksha Sanyasa Yoga" (Liberation through Renunciation).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 18.30?
Verse 30 sits in Chapter 18 of the Bhagavad Gita — Moksha Sanyasa Yoga, "Liberation through Renunciation". The chapter has 78 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 18.30 matter today?
A woman weighing whether to leave a stable job to look after her ageing mother needs more than courage. Krishna describes sattvic understanding: knowing what should be done, what should not, and which choice binds or frees.
Sattvic buddhi knows when to act and when to hold back, what to fear, and what binds or frees.
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
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.
What it looks like today
A woman weighing whether to leave a stable job to look after her ageing mother needs more than courage. Krishna describes sattvic understanding: knowing what should be done, what should not, and which choice binds or frees.
“You do not need more noise; you need better seeing.”
Explore related themes: viveka (15 verses)