Complete learning edition. The Sanskrit source remains separate from attributed word meanings, translation, explanation and commentary witnesses. Diagrams and memory aids are study tools, not replacements for the source text.
प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च कार्याकार्ये भयाभये।बन्धं मोक्षं च या वेत्ति बुद्धिः सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी।।18.30।।
pravṛittiṁ cha nivṛittiṁ cha kāryākārye bhayābhaye bandhaṁ mokṣhaṁ cha yā vetti buddhiḥ sā pārtha sāttvikī
That intellect which understands the creation and dissolution of life, what actions should be done and what not, which discriminates between fear and fearlessness, bondage and deliverance, is Pure.
English rendering by Shri Purohit Swami. Each source voice remains named.
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Read across once, then cover the meanings and recover them from the Sanskrit forms.
| Sanskrit form | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| pravṛittim | activities |
| cha | and |
| nivṛittim | renuncation from action |
| cha | and |
| kārya | proper action |
| akārye | improper action |
| bhaya | fear |
| abhaye | without fear |
| bandham | what is binding |
| mokṣham | what is liberating |
| cha | and |
| yā | which |
| vetti | understands |
| buddhiḥ | intellect |
| sā | that |
| pārtha | son of Pritha |
| sāttvikī | in the nature of goodness |
The threefold nature of knowledge has been described already (verse 22 above). Now the threefold nature of the intellect is described.
Attributed explanatory witness: Swami Sivananda. Chapter lens: Follow the great recapitulation through renunciation, action, knowledge, duty, devotion, refuge and Sañjaya’s conclusion.
Three named reading witnesses
Śaṅkara edition witness
Swami GambiranandaO Partha, that intellect is born of sattva which understands action and withdrawal, duty and what is not duty, the sources of fear and fearlessness, as well as bondage and freedom.
Rāmānuja edition witness
Swami AdidevanandaThat Buddhi, O Arjuna, which knows activity and renunciation, what should be done and what should not be done, fear and fearlessness, bondage and release:that Buddhi is Sattvika.
Sivananda commentary witness
Swami SivanandaThe threefold nature of knowledge has been described already (verse 22 above). Now the threefold nature of the intellect is described.
These are concise, attributed reading witnesses from identified editions. They are presented for comparison and are not merged into one anonymous interpretation.
Meaning map
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- 1
That intellect which understands the creation and dissolution of life, what actions should be done and what not, which discriminates between fear and fearlessness, bondage and deliverance, is Pure
- 2
pravṛittim: activities
- 3
bandham: what is binding
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Follow the great recapitulation through renunciation, action, knowledge, duty, devotion, refuge and Sañjaya’s conclusion.
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