टीका

Commentary

The mode of passion (rajas) is characterized by intense desire and attachment. Unlike the calm clarity of goodness, passion drives a person toward constant activity motivated by the desire for enjoyment. The word raagaatmakam indicates that this mode is rooted in raaga — deep attachment or attraction, particularly between men and women and toward material objects.

When passion predominates, a person is driven by unlimited longings (trishnaa). They want more wealth, more status, more pleasure. The desire for sense gratification has no ceiling — no amount of enjoyment ever fully satisfies. This insatiable craving is the hallmark of rajas. A person in passion works tirelessly to acquire material comforts, build a family, gain social recognition, and accumulate possessions.

The binding mechanism of passion is karma-sangena — attachment to fruitive activities. The person in passion becomes so identified with their work and its results that they cannot stop. They must keep earning, building, achieving. Even their charitable and religious activities are motivated by the desire for recognition or future rewards. The entire modern civilization, with its emphasis on economic development and sensory enjoyment, is predominantly an expression of rajas.

The consequence is clear: a person bound by passion must work hard throughout life, and the fruits of that work — whether pleasant or unpleasant — keep them chained to the cycle of birth and death. Their very identity becomes tied to their accomplishments, their family, and their social position. Breaking free from this cycle requires understanding that all these pursuits are temporary and cannot provide lasting satisfaction.