Chapter 18: Moksha-sannyasa-yoga:: Verse 34
यया तु धर्मकामार्थान् धृत्या धारयतेऽर्जुन ।
प्रसङ्गेन फलाकाङ्क्षी धृति: सा पार्थ राजसी ॥
yayā tu dharma-kāmārthān dhṛtyā dhārayate’rjuna
prasaṅgena phalākāṅkṣī dhṛti: sā pārtha rājasī – 18.34
O Arjuna, the will by which one diligently pursues dharma, artha and kāma, but with strong delusional clinging and greed for results, is rājasa dhrti.
Chapter 18: Moksha-sannyasa-yoga: - Verse 34
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
The object of human pursuit is the fourfold purushārtha – dharma, artha, kāma and moksha. They denote ethics and propriety in doing everything. One must first learn the righteous course of life (dharma). Then, the resources earned by righteous means (artha) should be utilised to meet the proper needs of living to fulfil the legitimate desires (kāma). The process should finally lead one to moksha, which is characterised by freedom from all the shackles (constrictions, limitations and bondages) felt within. This is the proper course of a meaningful, ethical life.
In rājasa will, the emphasis right from the beginning is only on the first three objectives, disconnecting them from the last. By so doing, human life becomes a rudderless ship, a centreless circle. The desired focus and stability will be deplorably missing. For, these three objectives themselves will not be able to complete and fulfil life at all. Alas, what is the fate then? An unfulfilled life, led in vain! The despair and vacuum assailing then will be ineffable. This is due to lack of timely intervention and compulsion from sāttvika wisdom and caution.
