Bhagavad Gita 18.27 — The Rājasic Doer: Attached, Greedy, and Swayed by Joy and Sorrow
रागी कर्मफलप्रेप्सुर्लुब्धो हिंसात्मकोऽशुचिः ।
हर्षशोकान्वितः कर्ता राजसः परिकीर्तितः ॥ १८.२७ ॥
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A doer who is passionately attached, craves the fruits of action, is greedy, harmful in nature, impure, and moved by joy and sorrow, is declared to be rājasic (passion-driven).
Transliteration (IAST)
Word Separation
The Sanskrit verse is separated into individual words (Padched) for easier study.
Word Meanings
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| rāgī | passionately attached |
| karmaphalaprepsuḥ | craving the fruits of action |
| lubdhaḥ | greedy |
| hiṁsātmakaḥ | of a harmful nature, prone to cause injury |
| aśhuchiḥ | impure |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| harṣhaśhokānvitaḥ | moved by joy and sorrow |
| kartā | the doer |
| rājasaḥ | rājasic, passion-driven |
| parikīrtitaḥ | is declared |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| rāgī | passionately attached | harṣhaśhokānvitaḥ | moved by joy and sorrow |
| karmaphalaprepsuḥ | craving the fruits of action | kartā | the doer |
| lubdhaḥ | greedy | rājasaḥ | rājasic, passion-driven |
| hiṁsātmakaḥ | of a harmful nature, prone to cause injury | parikīrtitaḥ | is declared |
| aśhuchiḥ | impure | ||
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
In this verse, Lord Krishna describes the <em>rājasic</em> doer. Such a person is passionately attached to the work, eager for its fruits, greedy, harmful in nature, impure in conduct, and swung between joy and sorrow by whatever happens.
Essence
The driven and restless worker
After the calm portrait of the sāttvic doer, Lord Krishna now shows the opposite, a person whose work is fuelled by craving. Each quality in the verse reveals a different side of this state of mind.
Rāgī (passionately attached): The person is strongly drawn to the work, to its rewards, or to the identity it gives. Attachment is the starting point of the problem.
Karma-phala-prepsuḥ (eager for the fruit of action): Attention is fixed on what the action will bring. The work is only a means, and the reward is the real goal.
Lubdhaḥ (greedy): Desire is never satisfied. Whatever is obtained only awakens the wish for more.
Hiṁsātmakaḥ (of a harmful nature): When desire becomes strong enough, other people become obstacles or instruments. Harm, whether subtle or open, begins to enter the person's dealings. It may be a harsh word, an unfair advantage, or a willingness to trample on others in pursuit of a goal.
Aśuciḥ (impure): The means used may become careless or unscrupulous, and the mind itself loses its cleanliness.
Harṣa-śokānvitaḥ (moved by joy and sorrow): Because happiness depends on results, the person rides an emotional roller coaster, elated by gain and crushed by loss.
The inner cost
The sequence in the verse is telling. Attachment leads to craving for fruit, craving leads to greed, greed leads to harm and impurity, and the whole pattern ends in emotional instability. This is the natural psychology of a mind driven by rajas. It may achieve a great deal outwardly, yet it rarely knows peace.
Message for Everyday Life (The Roller Coaster of Results)
If your mood rises and falls sharply with each success or setback, it is worth asking how much of your sense of well-being has been handed over to outcomes.
A practical step: Choose one project and decide in advance what part of it is purely your effort, such as the quality of your preparation and the honesty of your work. Measure yourself by that and treat the rest as a bonus. Gradually, your emotions begin to settle.
The driven and restless worker
After the calm portrait of the sāttvic doer, Lord Krishna now shows the opposite, a person whose work is fuelled by craving. Each quality in the verse reveals a different side of this state of mind.
Rāgī (passionately attached): The person is strongly drawn to the work, to its rewards, or to the identity it gives. Attachment is the starting point of the problem.
Karma-phala-prepsuḥ (eager for the fruit of action): Attention is fixed on what the action will bring. The work is only a means, and the reward is the real goal.
Lubdhaḥ (greedy): Desire is never satisfied. Whatever is obtained only awakens the wish for more.
Hiṁsātmakaḥ (of a harmful nature): When desire becomes strong enough, other people become obstacles or instruments. Harm, whether subtle or open, begins to enter the person's dealings. It may be a harsh word, an unfair advantage, or a willingness to trample on others in pursuit of a goal.
Aśuciḥ (impure): The means used may become careless or unscrupulous, and the mind itself loses its cleanliness.
Harṣa-śokānvitaḥ (moved by joy and sorrow): Because happiness depends on results, the person rides an emotional roller coaster, elated by gain and crushed by loss.
The inner cost
The sequence in the verse is telling. Attachment leads to craving for fruit, craving leads to greed, greed leads to harm and impurity, and the whole pattern ends in emotional instability. This is the natural psychology of a mind driven by rajas. It may achieve a great deal outwardly, yet it rarely knows peace.
Message for Everyday Life (The Roller Coaster of Results)
If your mood rises and falls sharply with each success or setback, it is worth asking how much of your sense of well-being has been handed over to outcomes.
A practical step: Choose one project and decide in advance what part of it is purely your effort, such as the quality of your preparation and the honesty of your work. Measure yourself by that and treat the rest as a bonus. Gradually, your emotions begin to settle.
Next Topic
Lord Krishna has shown the restless nature of the <em>rājasic</em> doer. In the next verse, He describes the <em>tāmasic</em> doer, whose work is marked by dullness, stubbornness, deceit, and delay.
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
The more you grasp, the more you fear loss.
Joy tied to outcomes is always paired with sorrow.
Methods matter as much as results.
Wanting less brings steadiness.
Notice what drives you before you drive on.
Success that hurts others is a poor success.
Greed fades where purpose grows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'rāgī' (passionately attached) mean in this verse?
What do 'lubdhaḥ' (greedy), 'hiṁsātmakaḥ' (of a harmful nature), and 'aśhuchiḥ' (impure) tell us about the 'rājasa' (passion-driven) doer?
Why is the doer 'harṣhaśhokānvitaḥ' (moved by joy and sorrow)?
Is ambition itself wrong according to this verse?
What is the practical message of this verse in one sentence?
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