Bhagavad Gita BG 18.29
Chapter 18, Verse 29 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
बुद्धेर्भेदं धृतेश्चैव गुणतस्त्रिविधं शृणु । प्रोच्यमानमशेषेण पृथक्त्वेन धनञ्जय ॥
buddher bhedam dhrtes caiva gunatas tri-vidham shrnu procyamanam asheshena prthaktvena dhananjaya
Meaning
O Dhananjaya (Arjuna), hear the threefold distinction (tri-vidham bhedam) of buddhi (discernment) and dhriti (resolve/steadiness) according to the gunas — declared completely (asheshena) and separately (prthaktvena).
Understanding
The structural announcement of the buddhi-dhriti analysis. After completing the guna-analysis of knowledge, action, and the doer, Krishna now opens the same framework onto two inner faculties: buddhi (the faculty of discernment, understanding, intelligent discrimination) and dhriti (the faculty of resolve, steadiness, the will-like capacity to sustain commitment). Gunatas tri-vidham (threefold according to the gunas): sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic in each case. Asheshena (completely, without remainder — leaving nothing out). Prthaktvena (separately — one by one, clearly distinguished). Dhananjaya (O Arjuna, winner of wealth — a distinctive epithet that reminds Arjuna of his warrior excellence and capacity to receive this teaching).
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| बुद्धेः | buddheh | of buddhi (the faculty of intelligent discernment, understanding) |
| भेदम् | bhedam | distinction, difference, division |
| धृतेः | dhrteh | of dhriti (resolve, steadiness, the faculty of sustained commitment) |
| अशेषेण | asheshena | completely, without remainder (a = not, shesha = remainder) |
| पृथक्त्वेन | prthaktvena | separately, distinctly, one at a time |
| धनञ्जय | dhananjaya | O winner of wealth — an epithet for Arjuna |
| बुद्धेः | buddheḥ | of intelligence |
| धृतेः | dhṛteḥ ca eva | and of steadiness also |
| गुणतः | guṇataḥ | according to modes |
| त्रि-विधम् | tri-vidham | threefold |
| शृणु | śṛṇu | hear |
| प्रोच्यमानम् | procyamānam | being described |
| अशेषेण | aśeṣeṇa | completely |
| पृथक्त्वेन | pṛthaktvena | separately |
| धनञ्जय | dhanañjaya | O winner of wealth |
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