Bhagvad Gita - Chapter: 14 Guna Traya Vibhaga Yogah

सत्त्वात्सञ्जायते ज्ञानं रजसो लोभ एव च |
प्रमादमोहौ तमसो भवतोऽज्ञानमेव च ||17||

From sattva arises knowledge; from rajas arises greed; from tamas arise heedlessness, delusion, and ignorance.

Sanajayate: Arises or is born.
Greed: Excessive desire for wealth or possessions.
Ajnanam: Ignorance or lack of knowledge.

The gunas influence human inclinations—sattva brings knowledge, rajas fuels desire, and tamas clouds the mind. Krishna illustrates how these qualities define one’s thoughts, behavior, and spiritual orientation.

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Guna Traya Vibhaga Yogah - Those established in sattva go upwards; the rajas-dominated remain in the middle; and the tamas-dominated, steeped in qualities of ignorance, go downwards.

ऊर्ध्वं गच्छन्ति सत्त्वस्था मध्ये तिष्ठन्ति राजसा: |
जघन्यगुणवृत्तिस्था अधो गच्छन्ति तामसा: ||18||

Those established in sattva go upwards; the rajas-dominated remain in the middle; and the tamas-dominated, steeped in qualities of ignorance, go downwards.

Urdhvam: Upwards or ascending.
Rajasa: The state dominated by rajas guna.
Tamasah: The state dominated by tamas guna.

Sattva leads the soul upwards toward higher realms, rajas keeps it bound to material pursuits, and tamas drags it downward into ignorance. Krishna emphasizes striving for transcendence over these fluctuating states.

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नान्यं गुणेभ्य: कर्तारं यदा द्रष्टानुपश्यति |
गुणेभ्यश्च परं वेत्ति मद्भावं सोऽधिगच्छति ||19||

When the seer perceives no doer other than the gunas and knows the Supreme beyond the gunas, he attains My nature.

Drashta: The seer or observer.
Gunebhyah: Beyond the three qualities.
Madhavam: Related to the divine nature.

Krishna encourages Arjuna to recognize the gunas as the doers, freeing oneself from their influence. Understanding this distinction is a step toward attaining the supreme state of liberation.

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Guna Traya Vibhaga Yogah - The embodied being, transcending the three gunas which are the cause of the body, is freed from birth, death, old age, and sorrow, and attains immortality.

गुणानेतानतीत्य त्रीन्देही देहसमुद्भवान् |
जन्ममृत्युजरादु:खैर्विमुक्तोऽमृतमश्रुते ||20||

The embodied being, transcending the three gunas which are the cause of the body, is freed from birth, death, old age, and sorrow, and attains immortality.

Janma: Birth or creation.
Mrityu: Death or end.
Jaraduhkhaih: Suffering caused by old age.

By transcending the gunas, one escapes the cycle of birth and death. Krishna assures Arjuna that this liberation brings eternal bliss, making it the ultimate goal for those seeking freedom from material suffering.

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Guna Traya Vibhaga Yogah - Arjuna said: By what signs is one who has transcended the gunas recognized, O Lord? What is his conduct and how does he transcend the gunas?

अर्जुन उवाच कैर्लिङ्गैस्त्रीन्गुणानेतानतीतो भवति प्रभो |
किमाचार: कथं चैतांस्त्रीन्गुणानतिवर्तते ||21||

Arjuna said: By what signs is one who has transcended the gunas recognized, O Lord? What is his conduct and how does he transcend the gunas?

Lingaih: Characteristics or signs.
Gunatitah: Transcending the gunas.
Prabho: O Lord, referring to Krishna.

Arjuna’s question reflects his growing curiosity about liberation. He seeks clarity on identifying and transcending the gunas, paving the way for Krishna’s guidance on achieving this higher state of being.

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Guna Traya Vibhaga Yogah - The Blessed Lord said: He who neither hates illumination, activity, and delusion when they arise, nor desires them when they cease.

श्रीभगवानुवाच प्रकाशं च प्रवृत्तिं च मोहमेव च पाण्डव |
न द्वेष्टि सम्प्रवृत्तानि न निवृत्तानि काङ् क्षति ||22||

The Blessed Lord said: He who neither hates illumination, activity, and delusion when they arise, nor desires them when they cease.

Prakasham: Illumination or clarity.
Moham: Delusion or confusion.
Kankshati: Desires or yearns for.

Krishna begins describing the qualities of a person who transcends the gunas, highlighting their detachment and equanimity. This marks the beginning of a roadmap for spiritual mastery and inner peace.

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Guna Traya Vibhaga Yogah - He who, seated like one unconcerned, is not disturbed by the gunas, who, knowing that the gunas are active, remains firm and unwavering.

उदासीनवदासीनो गुणैर्यो न विचाल्यते |
गुणा वर्तन्त इत्येवं योऽवतिष्ठति नेङ्गते ||23||

He who, seated like one unconcerned, is not disturbed by the gunas, who, knowing that the gunas are active, remains firm and unwavering.

Udasinavat: Like one indifferent or neutral.
Gunaih: By the qualities of nature.
Avastiti: Remaining or staying.

Remaining indifferent to the gunas, the liberated soul witnesses their play without attachment. Krishna emphasizes the stability and awareness needed to stay unaffected by the gunas’ fluctuations.

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