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पृथक्त्वेन तु यज्ज्ञानं नानाभावान्पृथग्विधान्।वेत्ति सर्वेषु भूतेषु तज्ज्ञानं विद्धि राजसम्।।18.21।।

pṛithaktvena tu yaj jñānaṁ nānā-bhāvān pṛithag-vidhān vetti sarveṣhu bhūteṣhu taj jñānaṁ viddhi rājasam

Sanskrit Chant Recitation
Chapter 18, Verse 21
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Scripture Translation Room

Sanskrit to English Translation

Translator:
But that knowledge which sees in all beings various entities of distinct kinds as being distinct from one another, know thou that knowledge to be Rajasic.

A Reading - Rantideb

Why: but the knowledge that perceives various beings of different kinds as separate, due to their divisions, know that knowledge to be of passion, describing a more fragmented, categorizing kind of understanding, still real knowledge, but of a more restless, distinguishing character.

In life: some genuinely useful knowledge is fragmented and categorizing by nature, distinguishing this from that, useful for practical navigation, even if it doesn't reach toward the deeper, unifying kind of understanding described in the previous verse.

Teaching: recognize that fragmented, categorizing knowledge still has real practical value in your life, this verse doesn't dismiss it as false, only as a different, more restless character than the deeper, unifying kind, both have their place.

pṛithaktvenaunconnected
tuhowever
yatwhich
jñānamknowledge
nānā-bhāvānmanifold entities
pṛithak-vidhānof diversity
vetticonsider
sarveṣhuin all
bhūteṣhuliving entities
tatthat
jñānamknowledge
viddhiknow
rājasamin the mode of passion

Deep Classical Commentary (Bhashya)

Author:
18.21 पृथक्त्वेन as different from one another? तु but? यत् which? ज्ञानम् knowledge? नानाभावान् various entities? पृथग्विधान् of distinct kinds? वेत्ति knows? सर्वेषु (in) all? भूतेषु in beings? तत् that? ज्ञानम् knowledge? विद्धि know? राजसम् Rajasic.Commentary Knowledge which sees As knowledge cannot be an agent? this should be interpreted to mean knowledge by which one sees.Entities Selves or souls.Different from one another Regarding them as different in different bodies.The knowledge that is led by the idea of separateness is passionate. Enveloping as it does the manifold creation with the veil of separateness? it deludes even the wise man. Owing to passionate knowledge? beings appear to be separate and the perception of unity is also lost sight of. That knowledge which beholds multiplicity in created objects and differentiates them as being small or great? according to their form and size? is of passionate nature and tainted. A man with passionate knowledge sees diversity everywhere. He beholds the many only.Now I will explain to thee? O Arjuna? knowledge that is of the ality of darkness? in order that thou mayest avoid it.