Chapter XVIII · Śloka 31
यया धर्ममधर्मं च कार्यं चाकार्यमेव च |
अयथावत्प्रजानाति बुद्धिः सा पार्थ राजसी ||
अयथावत्प्रजानाति बुद्धिः सा पार्थ राजसी ||
yayā dharmam adharmaṃ ca kāryaṃ cākāryam eva ca |
ayathāvat prajānāti buddhiḥ sā pārtha rājasī ||
ayathāvat prajānāti buddhiḥ sā pārtha rājasī ||
That intellect by which one knows dharma and adharma, and what should and should not be done, but not rightly — that intellect, O Pārtha, is rājasic.
The rājasic intellect is not ignorant but distorted: it perceives the categories of right and wrong yet applies them improperly, bent by desire and passion. Partial knowledge in the service of craving is more dangerous than simple ignorance.