बुद्धेर्भेदं धृतेश्चैव गुणतस्त्रिविधं श्रृणु।प्रोच्यमानमशेषेण पृथक्त्वेन धनञ्जय।।18.29।।
प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च कार्याकार्ये भयाभये।बन्धं मोक्षं च या वेत्ति बुद्धिः सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी।।18.30।।
यया धर्ममधर्मं च कार्यं चाकार्यमेव च।अयथावत्प्रजानाति बुद्धिः सा पार्थ राजसी।।18.31।।
अधर्मं धर्ममिति या मन्यते तमसाऽऽवृता।सर्वार्थान्विपरीतांश्च बुद्धिः सा पार्थ तामसी।।18.32।।
O Dhananjaya, listen to the classification of the intellect and fortitude, which is threefold according to the gunas, while it is being stated in detail and separately.
O Partha, that intellect is born of sattva which understands action and withdrawal, duty and what is not duty, the sources of fear and fearlessness, as well as bondage and freedom.
O Partha, that intellect is born of rajas with which one wrongly understands virtue and vice, as well as what ought to be done and ought not to be done.
O Partha, that intellect is born of tamas which, being covered by darkness, considers vice as virtue, and indeed perceives all things contrary to what they are.
Osho’s Commentary
Now listen, my friend, to the three kinds of intellect, the three kinds of buddhi. The sattvic intellect is one of pure, clear discrimination. It knows what is action and what is renunciation. It knows what is to be done and what is not to be done. It knows the difference between fear and fearlessness, between bondage and liberation. It is a clear, unwavering light. The rajasic intellect is confused. It does not see things clearly. It mistakes wrong for right and right for wrong. It is a clouded, wavering intelligence. And the tamasic intellect is enveloped in darkness. It sees everything in a perverted way. It calls darkness light and light darkness. It calls poison nectar and nectar poison. It is a state of utter delusion. Your intellect is the faculty that can lead you to liberation. But if it is clouded by rajas or shrouded in the darkness of tamas, it will only lead you deeper into bondage. To purify the intellect, to make it sattvic, is one of the greatest steps on the spiritual path.