Raagee karma-phala-prepsur lubdho himsaatmako ashuchih | Harsha-shoka-anvitah kartaa raajasah parikeertitah ||27||
Translation
The doer who is attached, who desires the fruits of action, who is greedy, violent by nature, impure, and swayed by joy and sorrow — that doer is declared to be in the mode of passion.
Word-by-Word Meaning
रागी
deeply attached
कर्म-फल-प्रेप्सुः
desiring the fruits of action
लुब्धः
greedy
हिंसा-आत्मकः
of violent nature
अशुचिः
impure
हर्ष-शोक-अन्वितः
subject to joy and sorrow
कर्ता
doer
राजसः
in the mode of passion
परिकीर्तितः
is declared
Commentary
Commentary
The rajasic doer is the polar opposite of the sattvic one. Where the sattvic doer is detached and steady, the rajasic doer is driven entirely by personal desire and emotional turbulence.
The verse paints a vivid portrait: raagee — deeply attached to outcomes and possessions; karma-phala-prepsuh — always craving the fruits of action; lubdhah — greedy, never satisfied with what they have; himsaatmakah — willing to harm others to achieve their goals; and ashuchih — impure in their motives and methods.
Such a person is always attracted to something — material comforts, family, wealth, power. They live in constant anxiety about whether they will get what they want and keep what they have. The world to them is a competition, and everyone else is either an obstacle or a tool.
The final quality — harsha-shoka-anvitah — captures the inevitable consequence: the rajasic doer is forever tossed between elation and despair. When their desires are fulfilled, they experience temporary joy. When they are frustrated, they are plunged into grief. There is no stability, no inner peace. This emotional rollercoaster is the direct result of making one’s happiness dependent on external results.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does Bhagavad Gita 18.27 mean?
- The doer who is attached, who desires the fruits of action, who is greedy, violent by nature, impure, and swayed by joy and sorrow — that doer is declared to be in the mode of passion.
- What is the Sanskrit text of Bhagavad Gita 18.27?
- The original Sanskrit verse is: Raagee karma-phala-prepsur lubdho himsaatmako ashuchih | Harsha-shoka-anvitah kartaa raajasah parikeertitah ||27||
- What are the key themes of this verse?
- This verse explores: doer, three modes, passion, rajas, greed, attachment.