Topic

Passion

4 verses from the Bhagavad Gita on passion. Explore teachings across 4 chapters.

All Verses

Chapter 3 • Verse 37 →The Yoga of Action
Shri bhagavan uvaca: Kama esha krodha esha rajo-guna-samudbhavah, mahasano maha-papma viddhy enam iha vairinam

The Supreme Lord said: It is lust and anger, born of the mode of passion, that compel one to sin. They are the all-devouring, sinful enemies in this world.

  • •Lust and anger are the primary enemies
  • •They arise from passion and agitation
  • •Recognize them as obstacles to growth
lustangerobstaclesenemies within
Chapter 14 • Verse 7 →The Yoga of the Division of the Three Gunas
Rajo ragatmakam viddhi trishna-sanga-samudbhavam, tan nibadhnati kaunteya karma-sangena dehinam

Know that rajas (passion) is born of unlimited desires and longings, O son of Kunti. Because of this quality, the living entity is bound to material action. Rajas drives restless activity through insatiable craving, keeping the soul perpetually bound to results.

  • •Rajas arises from desire and longing
  • •The mode of passion binds through compulsive action
  • •Rajas is the root of restlessness and craving
rajasdesirebindingaction
Chapter 17 • Verse 9 →The Yoga of Threefold Faith
katu-amla-lavanaty-ushna-tikshna-ruksha-vidahinah, ahara rajasasyeshta duhkha-sokamaya-pradah

Foods that are bitter, sour, salty, very hot, pungent, dry, and burning are preferred by those in rajas. Such foods cause pain, grief, and disease.

  • •Rajasic food agitates the mind and body and leads to suffering
  • •Overly stimulating foods increase passion and restlessness
  • •Diet directly affects mental states and emotional wellbeing
rajasic fooddietrajasdisease
Chapter 18 • Verse 27 →The Yoga of Liberation and Renunciation
ragi karma-phala-prepsur lubdho himsatmako 'sucih harsa-sokanvitah karta rajasah parikirtitah

The doer who is passionate, who desires the fruits of actions, who is greedy, violent in nature, impure, and moved by joy and sorrow is declared to be rajasic. Such a person is driven by turbulent emotions and self-seeking motivation.

  • •The rajasic doer craves fruits, is greedy, and acts with violence of temperament
  • •Emotional instability — elation and grief — marks the rajasic agent
  • •Impurity of motivation and nature characterize rajasic doership
rajasic-doerrajasgreedguna