prithaktvena tu yaj jnanam nana-bhavan prithag-vidhan। vetti sarveshu bhutesu taj jnanam viddhi rajasam॥ 18.21 ॥

Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, That knowledge by which one sees that in every different body there is a different type of living entity you should understand to be in the mode of passion.

yat tu krtsna-vad ekasmin karye saktam ahaitukam। atattvartha-vad alpam cha tat tamasam udahrtam॥ 18.22 ॥

Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, And that knowledge by which one is attached to one kind of work as the all in all, without knowledge of the truth, and which is very meager, is said to be in the mode of darkness.

niyatam sanga-rahitam araga-dvesatah kritam। aphala-prepsuna karma yat tat sattvikam ucyate॥ 18.23 ॥

Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, That action which is regulated and which is performed without attachment, without love or hatred, and without desire for fruit producing results is said to be in the mode of goodness.

yat tu kamepsuna karma sahankarena va punah। kriyate bahulayasam tad rajasam udahrtam॥ 18.24 ॥

Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, But action performed with great effort by one seeking to gratify his desires, and enacted from a sense of false ego, is called action in the mode of passion.