Bhagavad Gita 14.9 · Krishna
Three different hooks
सत्त्वं सुखे सञ्जयति रजः कर्मणि भारत।
ज्ञानमावृत्य तु तमः प्रमादे सञ्जयत्युत॥
sattvaṃ sukhe sañjayati rajaḥ karmaṇi bhāratajñānamāvṛtya tu tamaḥ pramāde sañjayatyuta
Clarity ties you to happiness, restlessness to action, Bharata. Heaviness, veiling knowledge, ties you to carelessness.
Words
- sattva
- rajas
- tamas
What it means
Krishna sums up the three hooks. Sattva hooks us with happiness. Rajas hooks us with activity. Tamas hooks us with carelessness, by covering what we know. Every human gets caught by all three at different times. Knowing your usual hook is powerful self-knowledge.
The story
Krishna is giving Arjuna a mirror. Which hook catches you most, Arjuna? He's inviting the same question from everyone who hears it, without blame. No one is caught by just one.
In your life
Ask yourself honestly, which of these hooks me most, comfort, busyness or avoidance? Write it down. Notice it three times this week.
Know your hook, and you can loosen it.