buddher bhedaḿ dhṛteś caiva
guṇatas tri-vidhaḿ śṛṇu
procyamānam aśeṣeṇa
pṛthaktvena dhanañ-jaya
Translation of Bhagavad Gita 18.29
O winner of wealth, now please listen as I tell you in detail of the different kinds of understanding and determination, according to the three modes of material nature.
Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
Now after explaining knowledge, the object of knowledge, and the knower, in three different divisions according to the modes of material nature, the Lord is explaining the intelligence and determination of the worker in the same way.
Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
In order to show that the jnanls should only accept sattvika items, the Lord now speaks of three types of intelligence and other items.
Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:
18.29 ‘Buddhi’ is the knowledge in the form of discriminative determination. ‘Dhrti’ is the resolution to hold on with perseverance to what has been undertaken even against all obstacles. Of these two, hear now the threefold division according to Sattva and other Gunas.
Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:
It should be noted that by the description of the three previous performers the threefold knower is also described and by the description of the threefold actions the threefold knowable is described and by the description of the threefold influences their natures are also described. Next Lord Krishna explains the threefold distinctions of intellect and determination.
Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:
Sri Madhvacharya did not comment on this sloka.
Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:
Thus Lord Krishna has described the threefold characteristics of action, its knowledge and the performer of actions based upon the the three gunas or modes of material nature. Next He will speak of buddhi or intellect and dhriti or determination also based on the influence of the three gunas. Both are essential in the ascertainment of truth and reality and worldly parlance and require clarity and reason in the case of buddhi as well as patience and forebearance applying to dhriti.
Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:
18.29 O Dhananjaya, srnu, listen; bhedam, to the classification; buddheh, of the intellect; ca eva, as also; the classification dhrteh, of fortitude; trividham, which is threefold; gunatah, according to the gunas, sattva etc. -this much is an apporistic statement-; procyamanam, while it is being stated; asesena, elaborately, just as it is, without omitting anything; and prthaktvena, severally. Arjuna is called Dhananjaya because, in the course of his expedition to conquer all the qaurters. he won immense human and divine wealth (dhana).
Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:
18.29 Buddheh etc. Intellect : the faculty of resolving. Content : satisfaction. After having performed either good or wicked action, everyone, at the end, feels ‘what is to be necessarily performed has been performed; so why furhter more ?’ Or else what could be the cause for [one’s] retiring from that action ?’ Therefore in every one there is content. This is the meaning intended here. The word-meaning, that is not clearly known-that alone is certainly explained [hereinafter].
Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:
buddher bhedam dhrtes caiva
gunatas tri-vidham srnu
procyamanam asesena
prthaktvena dhanañ-jaya
Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:
buddheḥ — of intelligence; bhedam — the differences; dhṛteḥ — of steadiness; ca — also; eva — certainly; guṇataḥ — by the modes of material nature; tri-vidham — of three kinds; śṛṇu — just hear; procyamānam — as described by Me; aśeṣeṇa — in detail; pṛthaktvena — differently; dhanam-jaya — O winner of wealth.
