Bhagavad Gita 18.29
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 29 of 78
बुद्धेर् भेदम् धृतेश् चैव गुणतस् त्रिविधं शृणु । प्रोच्यमानम् अशेषेण पृथक्त्वेन धनंजय ॥
buddher bhedam dhṛteś caiva guṇatas tri-vidhaṃ śṛṇu | procyamānam aśeṣeṇa pṛthaktvena dhanaṃjaya ||
Hear the three-fold division of buddhi and dhṛti by guṇas, declared exhaustively and distinctly, O Dhananjaya.
Word by word (3)
- buddher bhedam dhṛteś caiva guṇatas tri-vidhaṃ śṛṇu
- — the division/distinction (bhedam) of buddhi (intellect/discernment) and also (ca eva) dhṛti (firmness/constancy), three-fold (tri-vidham) by the guṇas (guṇatas) — hear (śṛṇu) — Krishna announces the next classification pair: buddhi and dhṛti will each be analyzed in three guṇa-types
- procyamānam aśeṣeṇa pṛthaktvena dhanaṃjaya
- — being declared/taught (procyamānam) exhaustively/without remainder (aśeṣeṇa = without-remainder), distinctly/separately (pṛthaktvena = with-separateness), O Dhananjaya (conqueror-of-wealth, Arjuna) — Krishna signals comprehensive and systematic treatment
- aśeṣeṇa
- — without remainder/exhaustively (a + śeṣa = no-remainder); Krishna uses this word to signal that the three-fold analysis of buddhi and dhṛti that follows will be complete and leave nothing out; a teaching-marker indicating systematic comprehensiveness
Now hear the threefold distinction of intellect and firmness according to the guṇas, as I declare them exhaustively and distinctly, O Dhananjaya.
A modern analogy
This is a chapter-heading verse — Krishna is organizing the teaching. Having completed the analysis of knowledge (seeing the one imperishable being in all), of action, and of the actor, He now announces the next two items: buddhi (intellect) and dhṛti (firmness). Like a systematic teacher saying ‘Now I will cover the next two topics in our curriculum: discernment and willpower, each analyzed by the three guṇas.’
Public-domain translations (4) compare all →
The threefold division of intellect and firmness according to qualities, about to be taught fully and distinctively (by Me), hear thou, O Dhananjaya. [1]
Hear thou the triple distinction of intellect and fortitude, according to the Gunas, as I declare them exhaustively and severally, O Dhananjaya. [4]
MISSING from index. [9]
Hear now, O Dhananjaya, the three-fold division of intellect and constancy, according to their qualities, which I am about to declare exhaustively and distinctly. [13]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Tāmasic dhṛti: the dull-witted one does not give up sleep, fear, grief, despondency, and pride.
All actions are done by the gunas of nature. The ego-deluded one thinks 'I am the doer' — this is the root of bondage.
Rājasic kartā: passionate, fruit-desiring, greedy, cruel-natured, impure, subject to elation and sorrow.
Daivī wealth begins: abhaya, sattva-śuddhi, jñāna-yoga, dāna, dama, yajña, svādhyāya, tapa, ārjava.
No effort on this path is ever wasted — even a little progress protects you from great fear.
Unmoved in sorrow, ungreedy in joy, free from passion, fear, and anger — that is the steady sage.
Verse 29 of 78 · back to Chapter 18