yayā tu dharma-kāmārthān dhṛityā dhārayate ‘rjuna
prasaṅgena phalākāṅkṣhī dhṛitiḥ sā pārtha rājasī
yayā — by which;
tu — but;
dharma-kāma-arthān — duty, pleasures, and wealth;
dhṛityā — through steadfast will;
dhārayate — holds;
arjuna — Arjun;
prasaṅgena — due of attachment;
phala-ākāṅkṣhī — desire for rewards;
dhṛitiḥ — determination;
sā — that;
pārtha — Arjun, the son of Pritha;
rājasī — in the mode of passion
In this verse, Krishna is explaining a specific kind of determination or willpower. He says that there are people who are very focused on getting rewards or results from their actions. These rewards can come from three main areas: doing what is considered right or religious (like following a moral code), pursuing wealth (such as working hard to earn money), and seeking personal enjoyment or pleasure (like indulging in things that make them feel good).
When someone is fixated on these rewards, it means their attention is mostly on what they can gain rather than on the actions themselves. For example, they might perform good deeds, not because they believe in helping others, but because they want to be acknowledged or rewarded for it. Similarly, they might work hard at their job, not for the love of the work or the satisfaction of a job well done, but primarily to receive a paycheck or promotion.
Additionally, these individuals might chase after sense gratification, meaning they pursue activities that give them immediate pleasure—like eating good food, watching entertaining shows, or engaging in fun activities. Their minds, lives, and senses are all consumed by these desires for rewards and pleasures. This preoccupation can lead to restlessness and dissatisfaction, as they are always wanting more, feeling that they never fully achieve what they seek.
Krishna points out that this kind of desire-driven determination is categorized as being in the 'mode of passion'. It’s a way of living that can lead to a lot of stress because the happiness derived from these pleasures is often temporary, leading to a cycle of always wanting more without true contentment.
In summary, Krishna teaches that when our efforts are guided by a desire for rewards, rather than by a sense of duty or purpose, we are operating from a passionate mindset. This mindset distracts us from understanding deeper values like duty or selflessness, which can result in lasting satisfaction. Thus, it's important to reflect on why we do what we do, and whether we can find joy in the actions themselves rather than just in the outcomes.