Bhagvad Gita - Chapter: 14 Guna Traya Vibhaga Yogah

Guna Traya Vibhaga Yogah - He who is the same in pleasure and pain, who dwells in the Self, to whom a clod of earth, a stone, and gold are alike, who is wise and holds praise and blame to be the same.

समदु:खसुख: स्वस्थ: समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चन: |
तुल्यप्रियाप्रियो धीरस्तुल्यनिन्दात्मसंस्तुति: ||24||

He who is the same in pleasure and pain, who dwells in the Self, to whom a clod of earth, a stone, and gold are alike, who is wise and holds praise and blame to be the same.

Sukhah: Pleasure or happiness.
Kanchanah: Gold or precious material.
Samstutih: Praise or approval.

The liberated soul remains balanced, unaffected by dualities like pleasure and pain or praise and blame. Krishna points out that such equanimity is crucial for transcending the limitations imposed by the gunas.

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Guna Traya Vibhaga Yogah - He who is the same in honor and dishonor, the same to friend and foe, and who has renounced all undertakings—he is said to have transcended the gunas.

मानापमानयोस्तुल्यस्तुल्यो मित्रारिपक्षयो: |
सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी गुणातीत: स उच्यते ||25||

He who is the same in honor and dishonor, the same to friend and foe, and who has renounced all undertakings—he is said to have transcended the gunas.

Mana: Honor or respect.
Apamana: Dishonor or disrespect.
Mitraripakshayah: Friend and foe alike.

Krishna highlights that detachment from all undertakings and equality toward friend and foe are hallmarks of one who has surpassed the gunas. This state represents ultimate freedom and self-realization.

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मां च योऽव्यभिचारेण भक्तियोगेन सेवते |
स गुणान्समतीत्यैतान्ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते ||26||

He who serves Me with unswerving devotion of love, he, crossing beyond the gunas, becomes fit to attain the eternal.

Bhakti Yoga: The path of devotion.
Avyabhicharena: Unwavering or steadfast.
Brahma Bhuyaya: Fit to attain the eternal.

Devotion to Krishna through unwavering love allows one to transcend the gunas. Krishna assures Arjuna that such devotion leads to oneness with the eternal and liberates the soul from material existence.

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ब्रह्मणो हि प्रतिष्ठाहममृतस्याव्ययस्य च |
शाश्वतस्य च धर्मस्य सुखस्यैकान्तिकस्य च ||27||

For I am the abode of Brahman, the immortal and the immutable, of eternal dharma and of absolute bliss.

Brahmano: Of Brahman, the ultimate reality.
Pratishtha: Abode or foundation.
Shashvatasya: Eternal or everlasting.

Krishna concludes by identifying himself as the ultimate abode of Brahman, the eternal and blissful foundation of all existence. This affirmation connects devotion with the ultimate truth and liberation.

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Chapter 15

Purusottama Yogah

श्रीभगवानुवाच ऊर्ध्वमूलमध:शाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम् |
छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित् ||1||

The banyan tree with its roots above and branches below is said to be eternal. Its leaves are the Vedic hymns; one who knows this tree is a knower of the Vedas.

Ashvattha: A sacred fig tree symbolizing the material world.
Vedas: Ancient Hindu scriptures containing spiritual wisdom.

The inverted Ashvattha tree symbolizes the material world, deeply rooted in illusion while drawing sustenance from the Supreme. This imagery sets the stage for understanding the transient nature of existence and the need to seek its ultimate reality rather than getting entangled in its branches.

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Purusottama Yogah - Its branches extend downward and upward, nourished by the modes of nature. Sense objects are its buds. The roots extend downwards, binding the soul to material existence.

अधश्चोर्ध्वं प्रसृतास्तस्य शाखा गुणप्रवृद्धा विषयप्रवाला: |
अधश्च मूलान्यनुसन्ततानि कर्मानुबन्धीनि मनुष्यलोके ||2||

Its branches extend downward and upward, nourished by the modes of nature. Sense objects are its buds. The roots extend downwards, binding the soul to material existence.

Gunas: The three modes of nature - sattva, rajas, and tamas.
Karma: Actions that bind the soul to the material world.

The tree’s downward and upward-growing branches represent worldly attachments and karma, growing endlessly through actions influenced by the three gunas. Its roots, binding the soul, indicate the continuous cycle of rebirth, emphasizing the need to break free through spiritual wisdom and detachment.

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