Pravrittim Cha Nivrittim Cha

Sattvic intellect sees clearly in every direction. It knows when to step forward and when to step back. It distinguishes what ought to be done from what ought not. It recognizes where real danger lies and where there is nothing to fear. And it understands what creates bondage and what leads to freedom.

Think of a seasoned sailor reading the sea. Calm water, rough water, hidden currents — the sailor knows when to set sail and when to anchor. No panic, no recklessness. That steady clarity of judgment in every situation is what Krishna calls sattvic intellect.

Three pairs define this intellect: action and withdrawal, right and wrong, bondage and liberation. A person whose buddhi can navigate all three with accuracy and calm — that person carries the greatest inner compass available to a human being.

The pairs 'fear and fearlessness' and 'bondage and liberation' carry deep weight. An intellect that can correctly identify what truly threatens us (and what does not) is the same intellect that can guide us toward self-knowledge.

In Chapter 2, Krishna spoke of 'vyavasayatmika buddhi' — the resolute intellect. That and this sattvic intellect described here are essentially the same: clear, steady, undivided.