Chapter 18 • Verse 38
विषयेन्द्रियसंयोगाद्यत्तदग्रेऽमृतोपमम्। परिणामे विषमिव तत्सुखं राजसं स्मृतम्॥
viṣhayendriya-sanyogād yat tad agre 'mṛitopamam pariṇāme viṣham iva tat sukhaṁ rājasaṁ smṛitam
Meaning
That happiness which arises from the contact of senses with their objects, which is like nectar in the beginning but like poison in the end — that is considered rajasic.
Rajasic happiness comes from sense pleasures — sweet at first but bitter later. Sensory indulgence seems delightful initially but leads to suffering, addiction, and depletion.
Strength Reflection
"I recognize sense pleasures that seem sweet now but turn bitter later."
Devotional Surrender
O Lord, help me see through rajasic pleasures to their painful results.