18.34 Holding on out of attachment Krishna speaks

यया तु धर्मकामार्थान् धृत्या धारयतेऽर्जुन
प्रसङ्गेन फलाकाङ्क्षी धृतिः सा पार्थ राजसी

yayā tu dharma-kāmārthān dhṛityā dhārayate ‘rjuna
prasaṅgena phalākāṅkṣhī dhṛitiḥ sā pārtha rājasī

But the steadiness by which one holds to duty, pleasure and gain out of attachment, craving their fruit, is of restlessness.

Explanation

Holding on out of attachment.

Steadiness that clings to duty, pleasure and gain, craving their fruit.

Duty is in the list. Persistence in doing the right thing is graded as middling if it is held onto for what it yields — which is a fine distinction and the whole of chapter 2's teaching.

Word by word

yayā: by which
tu: but
dharma-kāma-arthān: duty, pleasures, and wealth
dhṛityā: through steadfast will
dhārayate: holds
arjuna: Arjun
prasaṅgena: due of attachment
phala-ākāṅkṣhī: desire for rewards
dhṛitiḥ: determination
sā: that
pārtha: Arjun, the son of Pritha
rājasī: in the mode of passion