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18.30 Understanding that knows Krishna speaks

प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च कार्याकार्ये भयाभये
बन्धं मोक्षं च या वेत्ति बुद्धिः सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी

pravṛittiṁ cha nivṛittiṁ cha kāryākārye bhayābhaye
bandhaṁ mokṣhaṁ cha yā vetti buddhiḥ sā pārtha sāttvikī

The understanding that knows action and inaction, what should be done and what should not, fear and fearlessness, bondage and release, is of clarity.

Explanation

Understanding that knows what is what.

Action and inaction, what should be done and what should not, fear and fearlessness, bondage and release.

Four pairs — and fear and fearlessness is in the middle of them. The highest understanding is defined partly by knowing when to be afraid, which chapter 1 is a study in getting wrong.

Word by word

pravṛittim
activities
cha
and
nivṛittim
renuncation from action
cha
and
kārya
proper action
akārye
improper action
bhaya
fear
abhaye
without fear
bandham
what is binding
mokṣham
what is liberating
cha
and
which
vetti
understands
buddhiḥ
intellect
that
pārtha
son of Pritha
sāttvikī
in the nature of goodness