1 Gita Sloka Every Day - Chapter 14 - Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga - Sloka 7

The entire content of this mail is from Swami Adidevananda's translation of Ramanuja's  Gita  Bhashya and Swami Chidbhavananda's Bhagavad Gita, both published by Ramakrishna Mission

The characteristics of the three gunas are now explained

The Function of the Gunas 5-10

1 Gita Sloka  Every Day - Chapter 14 - Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga - Sloka 7

Rajah ragatmakam viddhi trishna sanga samudbhavam I

Tat nibhadnati kaunteya karma sangena dehinam II sloka 7

रजः रागात्मकं विद्धि तृष्णा संग समुद्भवम् I 
तत् निभद्नाति कौन्तेय कर्म संगेन देहिनाम्  II 7श्लोक 

Know, O Arjuna, that rajas is of that nature of passion springing from thirst and attachment that binds the embodied self with attachment to work.  

Rajas is of the nature of passion namely, it causes sexual desire. 'Passion' (raaga) is mutual yearning between a man and a woman. 'Springing from thirst and attachment' means it is the source of sensuality and attachment.'Trsna' (thirst, sensuality) is a longing for all sense objects such as sound etc. 'Sanga' (attachment) is the inordinate longing for union with one's sons, friends and other relations. By creating longing for actions, it binds the embodied self. Whatever actions have begun by the self from longing for sensual enjoyments they become the cause of births in bodies that constitute the means for experiencing such enjoyments. Therefore, Rajas binds the embodied self through attachments to actions. Rajas is the cause of sexuality, sensuality and attachment and of constant engagement in actions.