बुद्धि

Buddhi

buddhi

intellectThe discerning, deciding faculty — the highest of the inner instruments.

Editorial overview

In simple words

Buddhi is the part of us that decides and understands — the faculty that can say 'this is right'. A clear, steady buddhi is what lets us act well instead of being pushed around by impulses.

What is it?

In Sankhya, buddhi (also mahat, 'the great') is the first evolute of prakriti, the seat of ascertainment, and closest in clarity to purusha. The Gita repeatedly speaks of a resolute, single-pointed intellect (vyavasayatmika buddhi) versus a scattered one, and of buddhi yoga — the discipline of an even intellect. It also classifies intellect by the gunas.

Scholar’s note

Sankhya Karika 23 lists the sattvic and tamasic forms of buddhi (dharma, knowledge, dispassion, power and their opposites). In Nyaya, buddhi simply means cognition, a quality of the self — a different sense. Vedanta places buddhi in the subtle body, often as vijnanamaya kosha, the sheath of intellect in the Taittiriya scheme.

How its meaning differs

Editorial overview

Each tradition in its own terms. None is ranked.

Sankhya

Buddhi is the first product of prakriti, the faculty of determination; in it purusha's light is reflected, producing apparent consciousness.

Advaita Vedanta

Buddhi is the subtle instrument where the Self is most easily mistaken for the individual; purified, it reflects Self-knowledge.

Nyaya

Buddhi means cognition itself — a quality that arises in the self, not a separate faculty.

Where it appears in the Gita

Full text available

2.41

One firm resolve, or endless scattered minds

निश्चयवाली बुद्धि एक, कामनावालोंकी अनन्त

व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिरेकेह कुरुनन्दन।

The resolute intellect aimed at God is one; the minds of those driven by desires are endless, and each branches endlessly.

परमात्मप्राप्तिकी निश्चयवाली बुद्धि एक ही होती है; कामनावालोंकी बुद्धियाँ अनन्त और बहुत शाखाओंवाली होती हैं।

2.44

Where pleasure grips the mind, resolve cannot form

भोगासक्तकी बुद्धि एक निश्चयवाली नहीं होती

भोगैश्वर्यप्रसक्तानां

Those whose minds are carried away by pleasure and possessions cannot even form the firm resolve to attain God.

जिनका चित्त भोग और ऐश्वर्यमें खिंच गया है, उनकी परमात्मामें एक निश्चयवाली बुद्धि नहीं होती।

2.50

Yoga is the true skill in action

कर्मोंमें योग ही कुशलता है

बुद्धियुक्तो जहातीह उभे सुकृतदुष्कृते।

One endowed with evenness is freed from both merit and sin here itself; so devote yourself to Yoga — Yoga alone is skill in action.

समतायुक्त मनुष्य यहीं पुण्य-पाप दोनोंसे मुक्त हो जाता है; अत: योगमें लग जा, कर्मोंमें योग ही कुशलता है।

3.42

इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्य: परं मन:।

इन्द्रियोंको (स्थूलशरीरसे) पर (श्रेष्ठ, सबल, प्रकाशक, व्यापक तथा सूक्ष्म) कहते हैं। इन्द्रियोंसे पर मन है, मनसे भी पर बुद्धि है (और) जो बुद्धिसे भी पर है, वह (काम) है। इस तरह बुद्धिसे पर (काम)-को जानकर अपने द्वारा अपने-आपको वशमें करके हे महाबाहो! (तू इस) कामरूप दुर्जय शत्रुको मार डाल।

18.30

प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च कार्याकार्ये भयाभये।

हे पृथानन्दन! जो (बुद्धि) प्रवृत्ति और निवृत्तिको, कर्तव्य और अकर्तव्यको, भय और अभयको तथा बन्धन और मोक्षको जानती है, वह बुद्धि सात्त्विकी है।