But that knowledge which sees in all beings various entities of distinct kinds as being distinct from one another, know thou that knowledge to be Rajasic.
Translation by Swami Sivananda
Hindi meaning
।।18.21।। जिस ज्ञान के द्वारा मनुष्य समस्त भूतों में नाना भावों को पृथक्-पृथक् जानता है, उस ज्ञान को तुम राजस जानो।।
Hindi rendering by Swami Tejomayananda
English meaning
The knowledge that perceives the manifold existence in all beings as separate comes from passion.
Shri Purohit Swami
That instrument of knowledge, by means of which one considers the varied natures of different sorts in all beings as truly distinct—that is regarded to be of the Rajas strand.
Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
Detailed explanation
Knowledge which sees As knowledge cannot be an agent, this should be interpreted to mean knowledge by which one sees.Entities Selves or souls.Different from one another Regarding them as different in different bodies.The knowledge that is led by the idea of separateness is passionate. Enveloping as it does the manifold creation with the veil of separateness, it deludes even the wise man. Owing to passionate knowledge, beings appear to be separate and the perception of unity is also lost sight of. That knowledge which beholds multiplicity in created objects and differentiates them as being small or great, according to their form and size, is of passionate nature and tainted. A man with passionate knowledge sees diversity everywhere. He beholds the many only.Now I will explain to thee, O Arjuna, knowledge that is of the ality of darkness, in order that thou mayest avoid it.
Commentary by Swami Sivananda
Hindi commentary
।।18.21।। जब हम इन्द्रिय? मन और बुद्धि के माध्यम से जगत् का अवलोकन करते हैं? तब? निसन्देह उसमें हमें असंख्य प्रकार के भेद दृष्टिगोचर होते हैं। परन्तु जो वस्तु जिस रूप में दिखाई देती है? उसके उसी रूप को सत्य समझ लेना अविवेक का लक्षण है। राजसी पुरुष का मन सदैव चंचल और अस्थिर रहने के कारण वह कभी शान्त मन से विचार नहीं कर पाता और यही कारण है कि वह दृष्टिगोचर भेद? जैसे वनस्पति? पशु? मनुष्य आदि को परस्पर सर्वथा भिन्न और सत्य मान लेता है। ऐसे ज्ञान को राजस ज्ञान कहते हैं।
Swami Chinmayananda
।।18.21।। व्याख्या -- पृथक्त्वेन तु (टिप्पणी प0 904.1) यज्ज्ञानं नानाभावान् पृथग्विधान् -- राजस ज्ञानमें राग की मुख्यता होती है -- रजो रागात्मकं विद्धि (गीता 14। 7)। रागका यह नियम है कि वह जिसमें आ जाता है? उसमें किसीके प्रति आसक्ति? प्रियता पैदा करा देता है और किसीके प्रति द्वेष पैदा करा देता है। इस रागके कारण ही मनुष्य? देवता? यक्षराक्षस? पशुपक्षी? कीटपतङ्ग? वृक्षलता आदि जितने भी चरअचर प्राणी हैं? उन प्राणियोंकी विभिन्न आकृति? स्वभाव? नाम? रूप? गुण आदिको लेकर राजस ज्ञानवाला मनुष्य उनमें रहनेवाली एक ही अविनाशी आत्माको तत्त्वसे अलगअलग समझता है।वेत्ति सर्वेषु भूतेषु तज्ज्ञानं विद्धि राजसम् -- इसी तरह जिस ज्ञानसे मनुष्य अलगअलग शरीरोंमें अन्तःकरण? स्वभाव? इन्द्रियाँ? प्राण आदिके सम्बन्धसे प्राणियोंको भी अलगअलग मानता है? वह ज्ञान राजस कहलाता है। राजस ज्ञानमें जडचेतनका विवेक नहीं होता। सम्बन्ध -- अब तामस ज्ञानका वर्णन करते हैं।
Swami Ramsukhdas
Key teachings
Enveloping as it does the manifold creation with the veil of separateness, it deludes even the wise man.
Owing to passionate knowledge, beings appear to be separate and the perception of unity is also lost sight of.
That knowledge which beholds multiplicity in created objects and differentiates them as being small or great, according to their form and size, is of passionate nature and tainted.
Spiritual significance
In Moksha Sanyaas Yoga (Yoga through the Perfection of Renunciation and Surrender), this verse belongs to the Gita’s teaching on jnana yoga. Here the text presents that teaching through these words: But that knowledge which sees in all beings various entities of distinct kinds as being distinct from one another, know thou that knowledge to be Rajasic.
Chapter 18, verse 21 is part of Moksha Sanyaas Yoga. In the English translation used on this page, it says: But that knowledge which sees in all beings various entities of distinct kinds as being distinct from one another, know thou that knowledge to be Rajasic.
What is the spiritual context of this verse?
It appears in Moksha Sanyaas Yoga, a chapter associated with Jnana Yoga. Tyaga and sannyasa.
