Śrimad Bhagavad Gīta | Chapter 14
ŚRIMAD BHAGAVAD GĪTA
CHAPTER 14
THE SEPARATION OF THE THREE GUNAS
CHAPTERS: ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Refuting the independence of Prakriti and Purusha, in
the fourteenth chapter is described at length the manifold
phenomenal existence of the soul arising out of the association
with the Gunas.
अथ चतुर्दशोऽध्यायः । गुणत्रयविभागयोगः
atha caturdaśo' dhyāyaḥ | guṇatrayavibhāgayogaḥ
Thus the Fourteenth Chapter |
The Separation of the Three Guṇas
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 ||
The Blessed Lord Said:
I shall tell you again the supreme knowledge – the best of
all knowledges, knowing which all the sages have attained
supreme felicity from hence.
इदं ज्ञानमुपाश्रित्य मम साधर्म्यमागताः ।
सर्गेऽपि नोपजायन्ते प्रलये न व्यथन्ति च ॥ १४- २ ॥
idaṃ jñānamupāśritya mama sādharmyamāgatāḥ |
sarge'pi nopajāyante pralaye na vyathanti ca ||
By resorting to this knowledge they, having attained to My
nature, are not reborn even at the time of creation nor are
they distressed at the time of dissolution.
मम योनिर्महद् ब्रह्म तस्मिन्गर्भं दधाम्यहम् ।
सम्भवः सर्वभूतानां ततो भवति भारत ॥ १४- ३ ॥
mama yonirmahad brahma tasmingarbhaṃ dadhāmyaham |
saṃbhavaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ tato bhavati bhārata ||
The great Nature is My womb; in that place the germ, and
from that, O descendant of Bharata, is the origin of all beings.
सर्वयोनिषु कौन्तेय मूर्तयः सम्भवन्ति याः ।
तासां ब्रह्म महद्योनिरहं बीजप्रदः पिता ॥ १४- ४ ॥
sarvayoniṣu kaunteya mūrtayaḥ saṃbhavanti yāḥ |
tāsāṃ brahma mahadyonirahaṃ bījapradaḥ pitā ||
Whatever forms, O son of Kunti, are born in different
wombs, of them the great Nature is the womb, and I am the
seed-giving father.
सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणाः प्रकृतिसम्भवाः ।
निबध्नन्ति महाबाहो देहे देहिनमव्ययम् ॥ १४- ५ ॥
sattvaṃ rajastama iti guṇāḥ prakṛtisambhavāḥ |
nibadhnanti mahābāho dehe dehinamavyayam ||
Sattva, Rajas and Tamas – these Gunas, O mighty-armed
one, that are born of Nature (Prakriti), bind fast the
immutable, embodied being in this body.
तत्र सत्त्वं निर्मलत्वात्प्रकाशकमनामयम् ।
सुखसङ्गेन बध्नाति ज्ञानसङ्गेन चानघ ॥ १४- ६ ॥
tatra sattvaṃ nirmalatvātprakāśakamanāmayam |
sukhasaṅgena badhnāti jñānasaṅgena cānagha ||
Of these, Sattva on account of its stainlessness is luminous
and free from evil; it binds (the embodied self) by
attachment to happiness and by attachment to knowledge,
O sinless one (Arjuna).
रजो रागात्मकं विद्धि तृष्णासङ्गसमुद्भवम् ।
तन्निबध्नाति कौन्तेय कर्मसङ्गेन देहिनम् ॥ १४- ७ ॥
rajo rāgātmakaṃ viddhi tṛṣṇāsaṅgasamudbhavam |
tannibadhnāti kaunteya karmasaṅgena dehinam ||
Know Rajas to be of the nature of passion, the source of
desire and attachment; O son of Kunti, it binds fast the
embodied self by attachment to action.
तमस्त्वज्ञानजं विद्धि मोहनं सर्वदेहिनाम् ।
प्रमादालस्यनिद्राभिस्तन्निबध्नाति भारत ॥ १४- ८ ॥
tamastvajñānajaṃ viddhi mohanaṃ sarvadehinām |
pramādālasyanidrābhistannibadhnāti bhārata ||
But know Tamas to be born of ignorance and deluding all
embodied beings; it binds fast, O descendant of Bharata,
through inadvertence, laziness and sleep.
सत्त्वं सुखे सञ्जयति रजः कर्मणि भारत ।
ज्ञानमावृत्य तु तमः प्रमादे सञ्जयत्युत ॥ १४- ९ ॥
sattvaṃ sukhe sañjayati rajaḥ karmaṇi bhārata |
jñānamāvṛtya tu tamaḥ pramāde sañjayatyuta ||
Sattva binds (one) to happiness, Rajas, O descendant of
Bharata, (binds one) to work, while Tamas by covering
knowledge binds (one) to inadvertence, etc.
रजस्तमश्चाभिभूय सत्त्वं भवति भारत ।
रजः सत्त्वं तमश्चैव तमः सत्त्वं रजस्तथा ॥ १४- १० ॥
rajastamaścābhibhūya sattvaṃ bhavati bhārata |
rajaḥ sattvaṃ tamaścaiva tamaḥ sattvaṃ rajastathā ||
Sattva manifests, O descendant of Bharata, overpowering
Rajas and Tamas; Rajas (manifests) overpowering Sattva
and Tamas and likewise Tamas (manifests) overpowering
Sattva and Rajas.
सर्वद्वारेषु देहेऽस्मिन्प्रकाश उपजायते ।
ज्ञानं यदा तदा विद्याद्विवृद्धं सत्त्वमित्युत ॥ १४- ११ ॥
sarvadvāreṣu dehe'sminprakāśa upajāyate |
jñānaṃ yadā tadā vidyādvivṛddhaṃ sattvamityuta ||
When through all the sense-openings in this body the light
of knowledge radiates, then indeed one should know that
Sattva predominates.
लोभः प्रवृत्तिरारम्भः कर्मणामशमः स्पृहा ।
रजस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे भरतर्षभ ॥ १४- १२ ॥
lobhaḥ pravṛttirārambhaḥ karmaṇāmaśamaḥ spṛhā |
rajasyetāni jāyante vivṛddhe bharatarṣabha ||
Greed, activity, undertaking of works, restlessness,
desire – these prevail, O best of Bharatas, when
Rajas predominates.
अप्रकाशोऽप्रवृत्तिश्च प्रमादो मोह एव च ।
तमस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे कुरुनन्दन ॥ १४- १३ ॥
aprakāśo'pravṛttiśca pramādo moha eva ca |
tamasyetāni jāyante vivṛddhe kurunandana ||
Darkness, inactivity, inadvertence, as also delusion –
these prevail, O descendant of Kuru (Arjuna), when Tamas
predominates.
यदा सत्त्वे प्रवृद्धे तु प्रलयं याति देहभृत् ।
तदोत्तमविदां लोकानमलान्प्रतिपद्यते ॥ १४- १४ ॥
yadā sattve pravṛddhe tu pralayaṃ yāti dehabhṛt |
tadottamavidāṃ lokānamalānpratipadyate ||
If the embodied self meets with death when Sattva is
predominant, then it attains the pure spheres of the
worshippers of the highest deities.
रजसि प्रलयं गत्वा कर्मसङ्गिषु जायते ।
तथा प्रलीनस्तमसि मूढयोनिषु जायते ॥ १४- १५ ॥
rajasi pralayaṃ gatvā karmasaṅgiṣu jāyate |
tathā pralīnastamasi mūḍhayoniṣu jāyate ||
If it meets with death when Rajas is predominant, then
it is born amongst those who are attached to work; likewise
if it meets with death when Tamas is predominant, then
it is born in the wombs of irrational species.
कर्मणः सुकृतस्याहुः सात्त्विकं निर्मलं फलम् ।
रजसस्तु फलं दुःखमज्ञानं तमसः फलम् ॥ १४- १६ ॥
karmaṇaḥ sukṛtasyāhuḥ sāttvikaṃ nirmalaṃ phalam |
rajasastu phalaṃ duḥkhamajñānaṃ tamasaḥ phalam ||
The result of virtuous actions is said to be Sāttvika and
pure, the result of Rajas is pain, while ignorance is the
result of Tamas.
सत्त्वात्सञ्जायते ज्ञानं रजसो लोभ एव च ।
प्रमादमोहौ तमसो भवतोऽज्ञानमेव च ॥ १४- १७ ॥
sattvātsaṃjāyate jñānaṃ rajaso lobha eva ca |
pramādamohau tamaso bhavato'jñānameva ca ||
From Sattva results knowledge, from Rajas only greed,
and from Tamas nothing but inadvertence, delusion and ignorance.
ऊर्ध्वं गच्छन्ति सत्त्वस्था मध्ये तिष्ठन्ति राजसाः ।
जघन्यगुणवृत्तिस्था अधो गच्छन्ति तामसाः ॥ १४- १८ ॥
ūrdhvaṃ gacchanti sattvasthā madhye tiṣṭhanti rājasāḥ |
jaghanyaguṇavṛttisthā adho gacchanti tāmasāḥ ||
Those who abide in Sattva go upwards (to higher spheres),
the Rājasika dwell in the middle (spheres), and the
Tāmasika. Dwelling in the functions of the lowest Guna, go
downwards (to lower spheres).
नान्यं गुणेभ्यः कर्तारं यदा द्रष्टानुपश्यति ।
गुणेभ्यश्च परं वेत्ति मद्भावं सोऽधिगच्छति ॥ १४- १९ ॥
nānyaṃ guṇebhyaḥ kartāraṃ yadā draṣṭānupaśyati |
guṇebhyaśca paraṃ vetti madbhāvaṃ so'dhigacchati ||
When the seer beholds no (active) agent other than Gunas, and
knows that which is beyond the Gunas, he attains My being.
गुणानेतानतीत्य त्रीन्देही देहसमुद्भवान् ।
जन्ममृत्युजरादुःखैर्विमुक्तोऽमृतमश्नुते ॥ १४- २० ॥
guṇānetānatītya trīndehī dehasamudbhavān |
janmamṛtyujarāduḥkhairvimukto'mṛtamaśnute ||
Having transcended these three Gunas, which are the
cause of this body, the embodied self, bereft of birth,
death, old age and misery, attains immortality.
अर्जुन उवाच ।
कैर्लिङ्गैस्त्रीन्गुणानेतानतीतो भवति प्रभो ।
किमाचारः कथं चैतांस्त्रीन्गुणानतिवर्तते ॥ १४- २१ ॥
arjuna uvāca:
kairliṅgaistrīnguṇānetānatīto bhavati prabho |
kimācāraḥ kathaṃ caitāṃstrīnguṇānativartate ||
Arjuna said:
By what characteristics, O Lord, is one who has
transcended these three Gunas known? What is his
conduct, and how does he transcend these three Gunas?
श्रीभगवानुवाच ।
प्रकाशं च प्रवृत्तिं च मोहमेव च पाण्डव ।
न द्वेष्टि सम्प्रवृत्तानि न निवृत्तानि काङ्क्षति ॥ १४- २२ ॥
śrībhagavānuvāca:
prakāśaṃ ca pravṛttiṃ ca mohameva ca pāṇḍava |
ta dveṣṭi saṃpravṛttāni na nivṛttāni kāṅkṣati ||
The Blessed Lord said:
He who does not hate when the light (of knowledge),
activity and delusion arise, O son of Pāndu, nor desires
them when they cease;
उदासीनवदासीनो गुणैर्यो न विचाल्यते ।
गुणा वर्तन्त इत्येवं योऽवतिष्ठति नेङ्गते ॥ १४- २३ ॥
udāsīnavadāsīno guṇairyo na vicālyate |
guṇā vartanta ityeva yo'vatiṣṭhati neṅgate ||
He who rests like one indifferent and is not disturbed
by the Gunas, who, realizing that the Gunas alone
function, is steady and does not waver;
समदुःखसुखः स्वस्थः समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः ।
तुल्यप्रियाप्रियो धीरस्तुल्यनिन्दात्मसंस्तुतिः ॥ १४- २४ ॥
samaduḥkhasukhaḥ svasthaḥ samaloṣṭāśmakāṃcanaḥ |
tulyapriyāpriyo dhīrastulyanindātmasaṃstutiḥ ||
Alike in pleasure and pain, Self-abiding, regarding a
clod of earth, a stone and gold as of equal worth, the same
towards agreeable and disagreeable objects, calm, and the
same to praise and blame bestowed on him;
मानापमानयोस्तुल्यस्तुल्यो मित्रारिपक्षयोः ।
सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी गुणातीतः स उच्यते ॥ १४- २५ ॥
mānāpamānayostulyastulyo mitrāripakṣayoḥ |
sarvārambhaparityāgī guṇātītaḥ sa ucyate ||
The same in honour and dishonour, the same towards
friend and foe, habituated to renounce all actions – such a
person is said to have transcended the Gunas.
मां च योऽव्यभिचारेण भक्तियोगेन सेवते ।
स गुणान्समतीत्यैतान्ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते ॥ १४- २६ ॥
māṃ ca yo'vyabhicāreṇa bhaktiyogena sevate |
sa guṇānsamatītyaitānbrahmabhūyāya kalpate ||
He who serves Me alone through the unswerving Yoga
of devotion, transcends these Gunas and becomes fit
for the state of Brahman.
ब्रह्मणो हि प्रतिष्ठाहममृतस्याव्ययस्य च ।
शाश्वतस्य च धर्मस्य सुखस्यैकान्तिकस्य च ॥ १४- २७ ॥
brahmaṇo hi pratiṣṭhāhamamṛtasyāvyayasya ca |
śāśvatasya ca dharmasya sukhasyaikāntikasya ca ||
For I am the embodiment of Brahman, of immutable
immortality, of the eternal religion and of absolute bliss.
That the ocean of relative existence, which results from the
attachment to the Gunas, which are subservient to the Lord
Sri Krishna, is easily crossed by His devotees, is declared
by the Lord in this fourteenth chapter.
ॐ तत्सदिति श्रीमद्भगवद्गीतासूपनिषत्सु
ब्रह्मविद्यायां योगशास्त्रे श्रीकृष्णार्जुनसंवादे
गुणत्रयविभागयोगो नाम चतुर्दशोऽध्यायः ॥ १४ ॥
OM tatsaditi śrīmad bhagavadgītāsūpaniṣatsu
brahmavidyāyāṃ yogaśāstre śrīkṛṣṇārjunasaṃvāde
guṇatrayavibhāgayogo nāma caturdaśo'dhyāyaḥ