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Part XVIII: Renunciation and Freedom.1493
“And, further, O Arjuna, Prince of Pandu, who art my pupil and dearly
beloved student, listen while I inform thee clearly and without reserve
concerning the threefold divisions and nature of Intelligence and Will.
“That Intelligence which knoweth how and when to enter into an
undertaking, and how and when to withdraw; what is needful to be done,
and what is needful to refrain from doing;—which knoweth what is Fear,
what Fearlessness, and what Prudent Caution; what is Freedom, what
Bondage, and what Foolish License;—that Intelligence cometh through
Sattvas Guna. And that Intelligence which knoweth not fully what is proper
and what is improper—what is right and what is wrong—this imperfect
understanding being because of the sway of personal desire and passion,
which warpeth the reason, and which causeth one to see every act by the
light of his own personal desire—that Intelligence cometh through Rajas
Guna. And that Intelligence which, wrapped in its dense stupidity and
sloth, mistaketh Wrong for Right, Injustice for Justice and which seeth all
things awry, distorted and inverted, and contrary to their real meaning and
nature—that Intelligence cometh through Tamas Guna.
“That Will by which a man mastereth and controlleth himself, his mind, his
actions, his organs, his body, with devotion and firmness—that Will ariseth
from Sattvas Guna. And that Will by which a man is firm and persistent in his
calling, from selfish desires and hope of reward; and which is employed in
the furthering of avaricious undertakings; or in the gratification of lust—that
Will ariseth from Rajas Guna. And that Will by which a man manifesteth
a stubborn mind, like unto that of the wild ass, by which he holdeth fast
to folly, ignorance, sloth, superstition, bigotry, foolish vanity, laziness, and
fears—that Will ariseth from Tamas Guna.
“And, now, O Prince, hearken unto Me, while I inform thee regarding the
threefold division of Pleasure, wherein Happiness conquereth Pain.
“The Pleasure that proceedeth from Sattvas Guna, is that which a man
acquireth through his work and rightful energies—such is as poison at
the beginning, and as nectar of sweetest flavor at the ending—this is the