Bhagavad Gita 14.7 · Krishna
The restless engine
रजो रागात्मकं विद्धि तृष्णासङ्गसमुद्भवम्।
तन्निबध्नाति कौन्तेय कर्मसङ्गेन देहिनम्॥
rajo rāgātmakaṃ viddhi tṛṣṇāsaṅgasamudbhavamtannibadhnāti kaunteya karmasaṅgena dehinam
Know restlessness as passion, born of craving and clinging. It binds the one in the body, son of Kunti, through clinging to action.
Words
- rajas
What it means
Krishna describes rajas, restlessness. It's passion and drive, born from craving and attachment. It keeps us busy, pushing, chasing. It binds us through attachment to action itself. We can't stop doing. Energy is good, but rajas without clarity becomes exhaustion.
The story
The whole Kaurava army is driven by rajas, ambition and craving for power. Arjuna recognises it, and maybe sees a little of it in himself too.
In your life
Think of someone answering emails at midnight, unable to switch off. That's rajas. Set one clear stopping point for work today. Honour it.
Drive is good. Restlessness needs a pause.