Bhagavad Gita BG 14.12
Chapter 14, Verse 12 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
लोभः प्रवृत्तिरारम्भः कर्मणामशमः स्पृहा । रजस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे भरतर्षभ ॥
lobhah pravrttir arambhah karmanam ashamah sprha rajasy etani jayante vivrddhe bharatarshabha
Meaning
Greed, activity, undertaking of actions, restlessness, longing — these arise when rajas is flourishing, O best of Bharatas.
Understanding
The signs of flourishing rajas: lobhah (greed — the insatiable wanting more). Pravrtih (intense activity, being driven to act). Arambhah karmanam (undertaking of actions — starting projects, initiatives). Ashamah (restlessness, the inability to be still). Sprha (longing, craving, desire for objects not yet obtained). Rajasy etani jayante vivrddhe (these arise when rajas is vivrddhe = flourishing, increasing). These five are the diagnostic signs: if one notices greed, driven-ness to act, constant project-starting, inability to rest, and longing — rajas is dominant. Not judgment but recognition.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| लोभः | lobhah | greed, insatiable desire for more |
| प्रवृत्तिः | pravrttih | intense activity, driven-ness to engage |
| आरम्भः | arambhah | undertaking, initiating, beginning of actions |
| अशमः | ashamah | restlessness, inability to be at peace, unquiet |
| स्पृहा | sprha | longing, craving, intense desire for what one lacks |
| विवृद्धे | vivrddhe | when flourishing, when increased, when dominant |
| लोभः | lobhaḥ | greed |
| प्रवृत्तिः | pravṛttiḥ | activity, engagement |
| आरम्भः | ārambhaḥ | undertaking, initiative |
| कर्मणाम् | karmaṇām | of actions |
| अशमः | aśamaḥ | lack of peace, restlessness |
| स्पृहा | spṛhā | desire, longing |
| रजसि | rajasi | in passion |
| एतानि | etāni | these |
| जायन्ते | jāyante | are born, arise |
| विवृद्धे | vivṛddhe | when increased |
| भरतर्षभ | bharatarṣabha | O best of the Bharatas |