240. Buddhi and Dhruti
A fter explaining the threefold nature of karta and karma , Krishna explains that buddhi (intellect) and dhruti (fortitude or courage) are also threefold as per gunas (18.29). He says, “The intellect is said to be satvik when it understands what is desireful action and renunciation, what is duty and what is not, fear and fearless, bondage and liberation (18.30). The intellect is rajasik when it is confused between dharma (righteousness) and adharma (unrighteousness), and cannot distinguish between kaaryam (dutiful action) and akaaryam (undutiful action) (18.31). That intellect is said to be tamasik which is enveloped in darkness, imagines adharma to be dharma and looks upon all things in a perverted way” (18.32). The intellect varies from person to person, or even changes within the same person over time. These verses clarify that our intellect manifests under the influence of the prevailing guna. Clarity is the hallmark of satva while confusion is the hallmark of ...