Chapter 14 · Yoga through Understanding the Three Modes of Material Nature

14.1

श्रीभगवानुवाच | परं भूयः प्रवक्ष्यामि ज्ञानानां ज्ञानमुत्तमम् | यज्ज्ञात्वा मुनयः सर्वे परां सिद्धिमितो गताः ||१४-१||

śrībhagavānuvāca . paraṃ bhūyaḥ pravakṣyāmi jñānānāṃ jñānamuttamam . yajjñātvā munayaḥ sarve parāṃ siddhimito gatāḥ ||14-1||

Krishna says, I'll share with you the ultimate knowledge, the most profound of all, which has led every sage to attain the highest perfection, freeing them from the cycle of life.

14.2

इदं ज्ञानमुपाश्रित्य मम साधर्म्यमागताः | सर्गेऽपि नोपजायन्ते प्रलये न व्यथन्ति च ||१४-२||

idaṃ jñānamupāśritya mama sādharmyamāgatāḥ . sarge.api nopajāyante pralaye na vyathanti ca ||14-2||

Those who embrace this understanding and become one with me are not reborn when the universe is created, and they remain untroubled when it is destroyed, freed from the cycle of birth and death. They have transcended the turmoil of creation and destruction, finding peace and unity with me.

14.3

मम योनिर्महद् ब्रह्म तस्मिन्गर्भं दधाम्यहम् | सम्भवः सर्वभूतानां ततो भवति भारत ||१४-३||

mama yonirmahad brahma tasmingarbhaṃ dadhāmyaham . sambhavaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ tato bhavati bhārata ||14-3||

The universe is my womb, and in it, I plant the seed of life, giving birth to all living beings, Arjuna.

14.4

सर्वयोनिषु कौन्तेय मूर्तयः सम्भवन्ति याः | तासां ब्रह्म महद्योनिरहं बीजप्रदः पिता ||१४-४||

sarvayoniṣu kaunteya mūrtayaḥ sambhavanti yāḥ . tāsāṃ brahma mahadyonirahaṃ bījapradaḥ pitā ||14-4||

In every birth, Arjuna, the ultimate reality is the source and I am the father, providing the seed of life that makes it all happen, regardless of the circumstances of their birth.

14.5

सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणाः प्रकृतिसम्भवाः | निबध्नन्ति महाबाहो देहे देहिनमव्ययम् ||१४-५||

sattvaṃ rajastama iti guṇāḥ prakṛtisambhavāḥ . nibadhnanti mahābāho dehe dehinamavyayam ||14-5||

The qualities of purity, passion, and inertia, which arise from nature, tightly bind the immortal soul within the body, says Krishna to Arjuna. These qualities hold the unchanging essence of a person captive, limiting their freedom. They are the fundamental forces that shape human experience, influencing every being.

14.6

तत्र सत्त्वं निर्मलत्वात्प्रकाशकमनामयम् | सुखसङ्गेन बध्नाति ज्ञानसङ्गेन चानघ ||१४-६||

tatra sattvaṃ nirmalatvātprakāśakamanāmayam . sukhasaṅgena badhnāti jñānasaṅgena cānagha ||14-6||

Sattva is pure and radiant, and it binds us to things that bring us joy and to the pursuit of knowledge, Arjuna. It's a powerful force that draws us in with its promise of happiness and understanding. Through our desire for these things, sattva holds us in its grasp.

14.7

रजो रागात्मकं विद्धि तृष्णासङ्गसमुद्भवम् | तन्निबध्नाति कौन्तेय कर्मसङ्गेन देहिनम् ||१४-७||

rajo rāgātmakaṃ viddhi tṛṣṇāsaṅgasamudbhavam . tannibadhnāti kaunteya karmasaṅgena dehinam ||14-7||

The quality of Rajas is driven by passion and craving, arising from a deep-seated desire for pleasure and attachment. This quality, Arjuna, binds the living being to action, trapping them in a cycle of attachment to worldly pursuits. It's a binding force that ties us down through our relentless engagement with activities.

14.8

तमस्त्वज्ञानजं विद्धि मोहनं सर्वदेहिनाम् | प्रमादालस्यनिद्राभिस्तन्निबध्नाति भारत ||१४-८||

tamastvajñānajaṃ viddhi mohanaṃ sarvadehinām . pramādālasyanidrābhistannibadhnāti bhārata ||14-8||

Tamas arises from ignorance and it deceives all living beings, binding them down with a combination of carelessness, laziness, and a tendency to sleep or be lethargic, Krishna tells Arjuna. This darkness clouds their understanding and holds them back. It's a state that affects everyone, regardless of their form or body, Bharata.

14.9

सत्त्वं सुखे सञ्जयति रजः कर्मणि भारत | ज्ञानमावृत्य तु तमः प्रमादे सञ्जयत्युत ||१४-९||

sattvaṃ sukhe sañjayati rajaḥ karmaṇi bhārata . jñānamāvṛtya tu tamaḥ pramāde sañjayatyuta ||14-9||

The quality of sattva binds you to happiness, rajas to ceaseless activity, and tamas, by obscuring your understanding, leads to a life of distraction and negligence, Arjuna.

14.10

रजस्तमश्चाभिभूय सत्त्वं भवति भारत | रजः सत्त्वं तमश्चैव तमः सत्त्वं रजस्तथा ||१४-१०||

rajastamaścābhibhūya sattvaṃ bhavati bhārata . rajaḥ sattvaṃ tamaścaiva tamaḥ sattvaṃ rajastathā ||14-10||

When the forces of passion and darkness are subdued, clarity and balance prevail, Arjuna. Similarly, passion takes over when clarity and darkness are overcome, and darkness dominates when it overpowers clarity and passion. This is the natural cycle, Bharata.

14.11

सर्वद्वारेषु देहेऽस्मिन्प्रकाश उपजायते | ज्ञानं यदा तदा विद्याद्विवृद्धं सत्त्वमित्युत ||१४-११||

sarvadvāreṣu dehe.asminprakāśa upajāyate . jñānaṃ yadā tadā vidyādvivṛddhaṃ sattvamityuta ||14-11||

When awareness and understanding shine through every part of our being, it's a sign that our inner nature is becoming more balanced and harmonious, with sattva gaining strength.

14.12

लोभः प्रवृत्तिरारम्भः कर्मणामशमः स्पृहा | रजस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे भरतर्षभ ||१४-१२||

lobhaḥ pravṛttirārambhaḥ karmaṇāmaśamaḥ spṛhā . rajasyetāni jāyante vivṛddhe bharatarṣabha ||14-12||

When passion dominates, Arjuna, it gives rise to a surge of desires, a drive to constantly start new things, and an insatiable longing for more, leading to relentless activity and greed.

14.13

अप्रकाशोऽप्रवृत्तिश्च प्रमादो मोह एव च | तमस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे कुरुनन्दन ||१४-१३||

aprakāśo.apravṛttiśca pramādo moha eva ca . tamasyetāni jāyante vivṛddhe kurunandana ||14-13||

When tamas is dominant, darkness, stagnation, carelessness, and confusion take hold, Arjuna. These qualities emerge and grow stronger, leading to a state of ignorance and disconnection. This is the result of tamas gaining the upper hand, Kurunandana.

14.14

यदा सत्त्वे प्रवृद्धे तु प्रलयं याति देहभृत् | तदोत्तमविदां लोकानमलान्प्रतिपद्यते ||१४-१४||

yadā sattve pravṛddhe tu pralayaṃ yāti dehabhṛt . tadottamavidāṃ lokānamalānpratipadyate ||14-14||

When the person in the body passes away with sattva predominant, they attain the pure realms of those who have attained the highest knowledge.

14.15

रजसि प्रलयं गत्वा कर्मसङ्गिषु जायते | तथा प्रलीनस्तमसि मूढयोनिषु जायते ||१४-१५||

rajasi pralayaṃ gatvā karmasaṅgiṣu jāyate . tathā pralīnastamasi mūḍhayoniṣu jāyate ||14-15||

When someone's life is dominated by passion, they're reborn into a life of constant activity and attachment to work. If their life is marked by darkness and ignorance, they're reborn into a life of delusion, disconnected from wisdom and understanding.

14.16

कर्मणः सुकृतस्याहुः सात्त्विकं निर्मलं फलम् | रजसस्तु फलं दुःखमज्ञानं तमसः फलम् ||१४-१६||

karmaṇaḥ sukṛtasyāhuḥ sāttvikaṃ nirmalaṃ phalam . rajasastu phalaṃ duḥkhamajñānaṃ tamasaḥ phalam ||14-16||

The result of a good action is said to be pure and reflective of a balanced state, while actions driven by passion lead to suffering, and those rooted in darkness result in ignorance.

14.17

सत्त्वात्सञ्जायते ज्ञानं रजसो लोभ एव च | प्रमादमोहौ तमसो भवतोऽज्ञानमेव च ||१४-१७||

sattvātsañjāyate jñānaṃ rajaso lobha eva ca . pramādamohau tamaso bhavato.ajñānameva ca ||14-17||

When sattva is dominant, it leads to spiritual awareness and understanding, while rajas fuels desire and greed. Tamas, on the other hand, gives rise to confusion, delusion, and a lack of awareness, ultimately resulting in ignorance. This is how these three qualities influence our state of mind and behavior.

14.18

ऊर्ध्वं गच्छन्ति सत्त्वस्था मध्ये तिष्ठन्ति राजसाः | जघन्यगुणवृत्तिस्था अधो गच्छन्ति तामसाः ||१४-१८||

ūrdhvaṃ gacchanti sattvasthā madhye tiṣṭhanti rājasāḥ . jaghanyaguṇavṛttisthā adho gacchanti tāmasāḥ ||14-18||

Those established in sattva rise to higher levels, while those dominated by rajas remain in the middle, and individuals driven by tamas, the lowest quality, sink to lower states.

14.19

नान्यं गुणेभ्यः कर्तारं यदा द्रष्टानुपश्यति | गुणेभ्यश्च परं वेत्ति मद्भावं सोऽधिगच्छति ||१४-१९||

nānyaṃ guṇebhyaḥ kartāraṃ yadā draṣṭānupaśyati . guṇebhyaśca paraṃ vetti madbhāvaṃ so.adhigacchati ||14-19||

When someone sees that the qualities of nature are the only forces at work and realizes there's something beyond them, they attain a state of being one with me, Krishna. This happens when they understand that the qualities are the agents of all actions, and they've gained insight into what lies beyond those qualities.

14.20

गुणानेतानतीत्य त्रीन्देही देहसमुद्भवान् | जन्ममृत्युजरादुःखैर्विमुक्तोऽमृतमश्नुते ||१४-२०||

guṇānetānatītya trīndehī dehasamudbhavān . janmamṛtyujarāduḥkhairvimukto.amṛtamaśnute ||14-20||

When the soul rises above the three qualities that shape the body, it is released from birth, death, aging and suffering, and experiences the bliss of immortality.

14.21

अर्जुन उवाच | कैर्लिङ्गैस्त्रीन्गुणानेतानतीतो भवति प्रभो | किमाचारः कथं चैतांस्त्रीन्गुणानतिवर्तते ||१४-२१||

arjuna uvāca . kairliṅgaistrīnguṇānetānatīto bhavati prabho . kimācāraḥ kathaṃ caitāṃstrīnguṇānativartate ||14-21||

Arjuna asks Krishna, what are the characteristics of someone who has risen above the three qualities, and how does that person behave and transcend them.

14.22

श्रीभगवानुवाच | प्रकाशं च प्रवृत्तिं च मोहमेव च पाण्डव | न द्वेष्टि सम्प्रवृत्तानि न निवृत्तानि काङ्क्षति ||१४-२२||

śrībhagavānuvāca . prakāśaṃ ca pravṛttiṃ ca mohameva ca pāṇḍava . na dveṣṭi sampravṛttāni na nivṛttāni kāṅkṣati ||14-22||

The presence of clarity, action, or confusion doesn't disturb Arjuna, nor does their absence leave him wanting, for he remains detached from all these states.

14.23

उदासीनवदासीनो गुणैर्यो न विचाल्यते | गुणा वर्तन्त इत्येवं योऽवतिष्ठति नेङ्गते ||१४-२३||

udāsīnavadāsīno guṇairyo na vicālyate . guṇā vartanta ityevaṃ yo.avatiṣṭhati neṅgate ||14-23||

Remaining unmoved by the forces of nature, this person stays calm, knowing that these forces are at work, and doesn't get swayed from their inner balance. They understand that the qualities are actively engaged, yet they themselves remain steady and unshaken.

14.24

समदुःखसुखः स्वस्थः समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः | तुल्यप्रियाप्रियो धीरस्तुल्यनिन्दात्मसंस्तुतिः ||१४-२४||

samaduḥkhasukhaḥ svasthaḥ samaloṣṭāśmakāñcanaḥ . tulyapriyāpriyo dhīrastulyanindātmasaṃstutiḥ ||14-24||

Someone who remains calm and centered, unaffected by pleasure or pain, and sees all things as equal, whether it's a lump of dirt, a rock, or a treasure, and who meets both loved ones and enemies with the same steady heart, unshaken by criticism or admiration. They are a person of great courage and stability.

14.25

मानापमानयोस्तुल्यस्तुल्यो मित्रारिपक्षयोः | सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी गुणातीतः स उच्यते ||१४-२५||

mānāpamānayostulyastulyo mitrāripakṣayoḥ . sarvārambhaparityāgī guṇātītaḥ sa ucyate ||14-25||

They remain unchanged whether they're being honored or insulted, and they treat friends and enemies with the same attitude, having let go of all personal initiatives, such a person is considered to be beyond the influence of the material qualities.

14.26

मां च योऽव्यभिचारेण भक्तियोगेन सेवते | स गुणान्समतीत्यैतान्ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते ||१४-२६||

māṃ ca yo.avyabhicāreṇa bhaktiyogena sevate . sa guṇānsamatītyaitānbrahmabhūyāya kalpate ||14-26||

With unwavering devotion, one who serves me alone will transcend these qualities and become one with the ultimate reality, achieving a state of unity with Brahman. This devoted person will rise above the limitations of the material world, becoming fully established in their true nature. By dedicatedly serving me with unshakeable faith, they will experience spiritual liberation.

14.27

ब्रह्मणो हि प्रतिष्ठाहममृतस्याव्ययस्य च | शाश्वतस्य च धर्मस्य सुखस्यैकान्तिकस्य च ||१४-२७||

brahmaṇo hi pratiṣṭhāhamamṛtasyāvyayasya ca . śāśvatasya ca dharmasya sukhasyaikāntikasya ca ||14-27||

I am the foundation of Brahman, the source of eternal life, unwavering stability, and unshakeable righteousness, as well as the ultimate refuge of unending joy and happiness.