The 3 example passages in the Bhagavad-Gita have many intricated and deep meanings about

Motivation, Selfishness, Rewards, and Goodness. Motivation is highlighted in these passages

through the aspect of rewards. For example, an excerpt states “They are forever free who
renounce all selfish desires and break away from the ego cage “I”, “me”, and “mine” to be
united with the Lord.” This passage states that those who are motivated by selfless living are
eternally liberated. It encourages others to be motivated to think of others instead of themselves.
The passage “Seek refuge in the attitude of detachment and you will amass a wealth of spiritual
awareness” also carries a similar meaning of motivation by encouraging/motivating people to
detach themselves from wrong. The passage “Those who are motivated only by desire for fruits
of action are miserable, for they are constantly anxious about the results of what they do”
highlights motivation in a different light. It highlights how people who are motivated by a reward
will pay for their actions through their constant anxiety. These excerpts also portray a theme of
rewards. One passage highlights that a reward for selflessness is spiritual liberty. Another
passage states the reward of spiritual awareness is someone removes themselves from the wrongs
of societal norms. The theme of goodness is also described through the aspect of “if you do
good, you will obtain good rewards”. For example, the passages call you to think of others
before yourself. This is one definition of goodness. The first and last excerpts really highlight the
theme of selfishness. The meaning behind it is “if you rid yourself of selfishness, your spirit is
free. Vice versa.” It even states “renounce all selfish desires and break away from the ego cage”,
saying that if you are selfish, you are locking yourself in. Although there may be many
interconnected themes, the main idea is motivation, as all the excerpts motivate or encourage you
to stray from evil and do good. I think the Beatitude that best describes the theme of motivation
in these passages is “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy”. I think this because
the ideas in the previous passages that motivate one to do good are very similar to the ones in
this beatitude. For example, to be merciful can mean to be forgiving, and to forgive is to be
selfless. Just like the idea of being good and selfless with a given reward of freedom in the
Bhagavad-Gita, this beatitude carries the