Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā · Chapter 14 of 18
Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga — The Yoga of the Division of the Three Qualities
गुणत्रयविभागयोगः
Krishna continues his teaching by describing the three qualities (gunas) born of material nature -- purity (sattva), passion (rajas), and inertia (tamas) -- that bind the embodied self to the body. He explains how each quality manifests, what it produces, and where it leads a person after death. Arjuna asks how one who has transcended these qualities can be recognized. Krishna answers with a portrait of such a person: equal-minded toward all the qualities' effects, undisturbed by pleasure or pain, praise or blame, treating a clod of earth and gold alike. The chapter closes with Krishna's declaration that unwavering devotion to him is what allows a person to transcend the three qualities and attain union with Brahman, of which Krishna himself is the foundation.
- Verses
- 27
- Speakers
- Krishna, Arjuna
Verse by verse
Krishna
14.1
परं भूयः प्रवक्ष्यामि ज्ञानानां ज्ञानमुत्तमम्। यज्ज्ञात्वा मुनयः सर्वे परां सिद्धिमितो गताः॥
paraṃ bhūyaḥ pravakṣyāmi jñānānāṃ jñānamuttamam, yajjñātvā munayaḥ sarve parāṃ siddhimito gatāḥ.
हिन्दी अर्थ
श्रीभगवान् बोले -- सम्पूर्ण ज्ञानोंमें उत्तम और पर ज्ञानको मैं फिर कहूँगा, जिसको जानकर सब-के-सब मुनिलोग इस संसारसे मुक्त होकर परमसिद्धिको प्राप्त हो गये हैं।
English
Lord Shri Krishna continued: Now I will reveal unto the Wisdom which is beyond knowledge, by attaining which the sages have reached Perfection.
Krishna says he will reveal the highest wisdom, beyond all other knowledge, by which sages have attained perfection.
Krishna
14.2
इदं ज्ञानमुपाश्रित्य मम साधर्म्यमागताः। सर्गेऽपि नोपजायन्ते प्रलये न व्यथन्ति च॥
idaṃ jñānamupāśritya mama sādharmyamāgatāḥ, sarge'pi nopajāyante pralaye na vyathanti ca.
हिन्दी अर्थ
इस ज्ञानका आश्रय लेकर जो मनुष्य मेरी सधर्मताको प्राप्त हो गये हैं, वे महासर्गमें भी पैदा नहीं होते और महाप्रलयमें भी व्यथित नहीं होते।
English
Dwelling in Wisdom and realising My Divinity, they are not born again when the universe is re-created at the beginning of every cycle, nor are they affected when it is dissolved.
Taking refuge in this wisdom and attaining Krishna's own nature, one is not born at creation nor troubled at dissolution.
Krishna
14.3
मम योनिर्महद्ब्रह्म तस्मिन् गर्भं दधाम्यहम्। संभवः सर्वभूतानां ततो भवति भारत॥
mama yonirmahadbrahma tasmin garbhaṃ dadhāmyaham, saṃbhavaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ tato bhavati bhārata.
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे भरतवंशोद्भव अर्जुन ! मेरी मूल प्रकृति तो उत्पत्ति-स्थान है और मैं उसमें जीवरूप गर्भका स्थापन करता हूँ। उससे सम्पूर्ण प्राणियोंकी उत्पत्ति होती है।
English
The eternal Cosmos is My womb, in which I plant the seed, from which all beings are born, O Prince!
Krishna calls the vast cosmic nature his womb, in which he places the seed from which all beings are born.
Krishna
14.4
सर्वयोनिषु कौन्तेय मूर्तयः सम्भवन्ति याः। तासां ब्रह्म महद्योनिरहं बीजप्रदः पिता॥
sarvayoniṣu kaunteya mūrtayaḥ sambhavanti yāḥ, tāsāṃ brahma mahadyonirahaṃ bījapradaḥ pitā.
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे कुन्तीनन्दन ! सम्पूर्ण योनियोंमें प्राणियोंके जितने शरीर पैदा होते हैं, उन सबकी मूल प्रकृति तो माता है और मैं बीज-स्थापन करनेवाला पिता हूँ।
English
O illustrious son of Kunti! Through whatever wombs men are born, it is the Spirit Itself that conceives, and I am their Father.
Whatever forms arise in any womb, Krishna says, cosmic nature is their womb and he is the seed-giving father.
Krishna
14.5
सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणाः प्रकृतिसंभवाः। निबध्नन्ति महाबाहो देहे देहिनमव्ययम्॥
sattvaṃ rajastama iti guṇāḥ prakṛtisaṃbhavāḥ, nibadhnanti mahābāho dehe dehinamavyayam.
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे महाबाहो ! प्रकृतिसे उत्पन्न होनेवाले सत्त्व, रज और तम -- ये तीनों गुण अविनाशी देहीको देहमें बाँध देते हैं।
English
Purity, Passion and Ignorance are the Qualities which the Law of nature bringeth forth. They fetter the free Spirit in all beings.
The three qualities born of nature -- purity (sattva), passion (rajas), and inertia (tamas) -- bind the imperishable embodied self to the body.
Krishna
14.6
तत्र सत्त्वं निर्मलत्वात्प्रकाशकमनामयम्। सुखसङ्गेन बध्नाति ज्ञानसङ्गेन चानघ॥
tatra sattvaṃ nirmalatvātprakāśakamanāmayam, sukhasaṅgena badhnāti jñānasaṅgena cānagha.
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे पापरहित अर्जुन ! उन गुणोंमें सत्त्वगुण निर्मल (स्वच्छ) होनेके कारण प्रकाशक और निर्विकार है। वह सुख और ज्ञानकी आसक्तिसे (देहीको) बाँधता है।
English
O Sinless One! Of these, Purity, being luminous, strong and invulnerable, binds one by its yearning for happiness and illumination.
Purity, being untainted and luminous, binds through attachment to happiness and knowledge.
Krishna
14.7
रजो रागात्मकं विद्धि तृष्णासङ्गसमुद्भवम्। तन्निबध्नाति कौन्तेय कर्मसङ्गेन देहिनम्॥
rajo rāgātmakaṃ viddhi tṛṣṇāsaṅgasamudbhavam, tannibadhnāti kaunteya karmasaṅgena dehinam.
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे कुन्तीनन्दन ! तृष्णा और आसक्तिको पैदा करनेवाले रजोगुणको तुम रागस्वरूप समझो। वह कर्मोंकी आसक्तिसे शरीरधारीको बाँधता है।
English
Passion, engendered by thirst for pleasure and attachment, binds the soul through its fondness for activity.
Passion, born of craving and attachment, binds the embodied self through attachment to action.
Krishna
14.8
तमस्त्वज्ञानजं विद्धि मोहनं सर्वदेहिनाम्। प्रमादालस्यनिद्राभिस्तन्निबध्नाति भारत॥
tamastvajñānajaṃ viddhi mohanaṃ sarvadehinām, pramādālasyanidrābhistannibadhnāti bhārata.
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे भरतवंशी अर्जुन ! सम्पूर्ण देहधारियोंको मोहित करनेवाले तमोगुणको तुम अज्ञानसे उत्पन्न होनेवाला समझो। वह प्रमाद, आलस्य और निद्राके द्वारा देहधारियोंको बाँधता है।
English
But Ignorance, the product of darkness, stupefies the senses in all embodied beings, binding them by chains of folly, indolence and lethargy.
Inertia, born of ignorance, deludes all embodied beings, binding them through negligence, laziness, and excessive sleep.
Krishna
14.9
सत्त्वं सुखे सञ्जयति रजः कर्मणि भारत। ज्ञानमावृत्य तु तमः प्रमादे सञ्जयत्युत॥
sattvaṃ sukhe sañjayati rajaḥ karmaṇi bhārata, jñānamāvṛtya tu tamaḥ pramāde sañjayatyuta.
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे भरतवंशोद्भव अर्जुन ! सत्त्वगुण सुखमें और रजोगुण कर्ममें लगाकर मनुष्यपर विजय करता है तथा तमोगुण ज्ञानको ढककर एवं प्रमादमें भी लगाकर मनुष्यपर विजंय करता है।
English
Purity brings happiness, Passion commotion, and Ignorance, which obscures wisdom, leads to a life of failure.
Purity binds one to happiness, passion to action, and inertia, veiling knowledge, binds one to negligence.
Krishna
14.10
रजस्तमश्चाभिभूय सत्त्वं भवति भारत। रजः सत्त्वं तमश्चैव तमः सत्त्वं रजस्तथा॥
rajastamaścābhibhūya sattvaṃ bhavati bhārata, rajaḥ sattvaṃ tamaścaiva tamaḥ sattvaṃ rajastathā.
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे भरतवंशोद्भव अर्जुन ! रजोगुण और तमोगुणको दबाकर सत्त्वगुण सत्त्वगुण, और तमोगुणको दबाकर रजोगुण, वैसे ही सत्त्वगुण और रजोगुणको दबाकर तमोगुण बढ़ता है।
English
O Prince! Purity prevails when Passion and Ignorance are overcome; Passion, when Purity and Ignorance are overcome; and Ignorance when it overcomes Purity and Passion.
Purity prevails by overpowering passion and inertia; passion prevails over purity and inertia; and inertia prevails over the other two.
Krishna
14.11
सर्वद्वारेषु देहेऽस्मिन्प्रकाश उपजायते। ज्ञानं यदा तदा विद्याद्विवृद्धं सत्त्वमित्युत॥
sarvadvāreṣu dehe'sminprakāśa upajāyate, jñānaṃ yadā tadā vidyādvivṛddhaṃ sattvamityuta.
हिन्दी अर्थ
जब इस मनुष्यशरीरमें सब द्वारों-(इन्द्रियों और अन्तःकरण-) में प्रकाश (स्वच्छता) और ज्ञान (विवेक) प्रकट हो जाता है, तब जानना चाहिये कि सत्त्वगुण बढ़ा हुआ है।
English
When the light of knowledge gleams forth from all the gates of the body, then be sure that Purity prevails.
When the light of knowledge shines through all the senses of the body, one may know that purity has become predominant.
Krishna
14.12
लोभः प्रवृत्तिरारम्भः कर्मणामशमः स्पृहा। रजस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे भरतर्षभ॥
lobhaḥ pravṛttirārambhaḥ karmaṇāmaśamaḥ spṛhā, rajasyetāni jāyante vivṛddhe bharatarṣabha.
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे भरतवंशमें श्रेष्ठ अर्जुन ! रजोगुणके बढ़नेपर लोभ, प्रवृत्ति, कर्मोंका आरम्भ, अशान्ति और स्पृहा -- ये वृत्तियाँ पैदा होती हैं।
English
O best of Indians! Avarice, the impulse to act and the beginning of action itself are all due to the dominance of Passion.
Greed, activity, initiating action, restlessness, and craving arise when passion becomes predominant.
Krishna
14.13
अप्रकाशोऽप्रवृत्तिश्च प्रमादो मोह एव च। तमस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे कुरुनन्दन॥
aprakāśo'pravṛttiśca pramādo moha eva ca, tamasyetāni jāyante vivṛddhe kurunandana.
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे कुरुनन्दन ! तमोगुणके बढ़नेपर अप्रकाश, अप्रवृत्ति, प्रमाद और मोह -- ये वृत्तियाँ भी पैदा होती हैं।
English
Darkness, stagnation, folly and infatuation are the result of the dominance of Ignorance, O joy of the Kuru-clan!
Darkness, inertia, negligence, and delusion arise when inertia becomes predominant.
Krishna
14.14
यदा सत्त्वे प्रवृद्धे तु प्रलयं याति देहभृत्। तदोत्तमविदां लोकानमलान्प्रतिपद्यते॥
yadā sattve pravṛddhe tu pralayaṃ yāti dehabhṛt, tadottamavidāṃ lokānamalānpratipadyate.
हिन्दी अर्थ
जिस समय सत्त्वगुण बढ़ा हो, उस समय यदि देहधारी मनुष्य मर जाता है, तो वह,उत्तमवेत्ताओंके निर्मल लोकोंमें जाता है।
English
When Purity prevails, the soul on quitting the body passes on to the pure regions where live those who know the Highest.
If one dies while purity is predominant, one attains the pure worlds of those who know the highest truth.
Krishna
14.15
रजसि प्रलयं गत्वा कर्मसङ्गिषु जायते। तथा प्रलीनस्तमसि मूढयोनिषु जायते॥
rajasi pralayaṃ gatvā karmasaṅgiṣu jāyate, tathā pralīnastamasi mūḍhayoniṣu jāyate.
हिन्दी अर्थ
रजोगुणके बढ़नेपर मरनेवाला प्राणी मनुष्ययोनिमें जन्म लेता है तथा तमोगुणके बढ़नेपर मरनेवाला मूढ़योनियोंमें जन्म लेता है।
English
When Passion prevails, the soul is reborn among those who love activity; when Ignorance rules, it enters the wombs of the ignorant.
Dying under passion, one is reborn among those attached to action; dying under inertia, one is born into deluded wombs.
Krishna
14.16
कर्मणः सुकृतस्याहुः सात्त्विकं निर्मलं फलम्। रजसस्तु फलं दुःखमज्ञानं तमसः फलम्॥
karmaṇaḥ sukṛtasyāhuḥ sāttvikaṃ nirmalaṃ phalam, rajasastu phalaṃ duḥkhamajñānaṃ tamasaḥ phalam.
हिन्दी अर्थ
(विवेकी पुरुषोंने) शुभ-कर्मका तो सात्त्विक निर्मल फल कहा है, राजस कर्मका फल दुःख कहा है और तामस कर्मका फल अज्ञान (मूढ़ता) कहा है।
English
They say the fruit of a meritorious action is spotless and full of purity; the outcome of Passion is misery, and of Ignorance darkness.
The fruit of good action is said to be pure and untainted; the fruit of passion is suffering; the fruit of inertia is ignorance.
Krishna
14.17
सत्त्वात्सञ्जायते ज्ञानं रजसो लोभ एव च। प्रमादमोहौ तमसो भवतोऽज्ञानमेव च॥
sattvātsañjāyate jñānaṃ rajaso lobha eva ca, pramādamohau tamaso bhavato'jñānameva ca.
हिन्दी अर्थ
सत्त्वगुणसे ज्ञान और रजोगुणसे लोभ आदि ही उत्पन्न होते हैं; तमोगुणसे प्रमाद, मोह एवं अज्ञान भी उत्पन्न होता है।
English
Purity engenders Wisdom, Passion avarice, and Ignorance folly, infatuation and darkness.
From purity arises knowledge, from passion arises greed, and from inertia arise negligence, delusion, and ignorance.
Krishna
14.18
ऊर्ध्वं गच्छन्ति सत्त्वस्था मध्ये तिष्ठन्ति राजसाः। जघन्यगुणवृत्तिस्था अधो गच्छन्ति तामसाः॥
ūrdhvaṃ gacchanti sattvasthā madhye tiṣṭhanti rājasāḥ, jaghanyaguṇavṛttisthā adho gacchanti tāmasāḥ.
हिन्दी अर्थ
सत्त्वगुणमें स्थित मनुष्य ऊर्ध्वलोकोंमें जाते हैं, रजोगुणमें स्थित मनुष्य मृत्युलोकमें जन्म लेते हैं और निन्दनीय तमोगुणकी वृत्तिमें स्थित मनुष्य अधोगतिमें जाते हैं।
English
When Purity is in the ascendant, the man evolves; when Passion, he neither evolves nor degenerates; when Ignorance, he is lost.
Those established in purity rise upward, those in passion remain in the middle, and those in inertia, the lowest quality, sink downward.
Krishna
14.19
नान्यं गुणेभ्यः कर्तारं यदा द्रष्टानुपश्यति। गुणेभ्यश्च परं वेत्ति मद्भावं सोऽधिगच्छति॥
nānyaṃ guṇebhyaḥ kartāraṃ yadā draṣṭānupaśyati, guṇebhyaśca paraṃ vetti madbhāvaṃ so'dhigacchati.
हिन्दी अर्थ
जब विवेकी (विचारकुशल) मनुष्य तीनों गुणोंके सिवाय अन्य किसीको कर्ता नहीं देखता और अपनेको गुणोंसे पर अनुभव करता है, तब वह मेरे स्वरूपको प्राप्त हो जाता है।
English
As soon as man understands that it is only the Qualities which act and nothing else, and perceives That which is beyond, he attains My divine nature.
When the seer perceives that no doer exists other than the three qualities, and understands what is beyond them, one attains Krishna's own being.
Krishna
14.20
गुणानेतानतीत्य त्रीन्देही देहसमुद्भवान्। जन्ममृत्युजरादुःखैर्विमुक्तोऽमृतमश्नुते॥
guṇānetānatītya trīndehī dehasamudbhavān, janmamṛtyujarāduḥkhairvimukto'mṛtamaśnute.
हिन्दी अर्थ
देहधारी (विवेकी मनुष्य) देहको उत्पन्न करनेवाले इन तीनों गुणोंका अतिक्रमण करके जन्म, मृत्यु और वृद्धावस्थारूप दुःखोंसे रहित हुआ अमरताका अनुभव करता है।
English
When the soul transcends the Qualities, which are the real cause of physical existence, then, freed from birth and death, from old age and misery, he quaffs the nectar of immortality.
Transcending these three qualities that arise with the body, freed from birth, death, old age, and suffering, one attains immortality.
Arjuna
14.21
कैर्लिंगैस्त्रीन्गुणानेतानतीतो भवति प्रभो। किमाचारः कथं चैतांस्त्रीन्गुणानतिवर्तते॥
kairliṃgaistrīnguṇānetānatīto bhavati prabho, kimācāraḥ kathaṃ caitāṃstrīnguṇānativartate.
हिन्दी अर्थ
अर्जुन बोले -- हे प्रभो ! इन तीनों गुणोंसे अतीत हुआ मनुष्य किन लक्षणोंसे युक्त होता है? उसके आचरण कैसे होते हैं? और इन तीनों गुणोंका अतिक्रमण कैसे किया जा सकता है?
English
Arjuna asked: My Lord! By what signs can he who has transcended the Qualities be recognized? How does he act? How does he live beyond them?
Arjuna asks Krishna: by what signs is one who has transcended the three qualities recognized, and how does such a person behave and go beyond them?
Krishna
14.22
प्रकाशं च प्रवृत्तिं च मोहमेव च पाण्डव। न द्वेष्टि सम्प्रवृत्तानि न निवृत्तानि काङ्क्षति॥
prakāśaṃ ca pravṛttiṃ ca mohameva ca pāṇḍava, na dveṣṭi sampravṛttāni na nivṛttāni kāṅkṣati.
हिन्दी अर्थ
श्रीभगवान् बोले -- हे पाण्डव ! प्रकाश, प्रवृत्ति तथा मोह -- ये सभी अच्छी तरहसे प्रवृत्त हो जायँ तो भी गुणातीत मनुष्य इनसे द्वेष नहीं करता, और ये सभी निवृत्त हो जायँ तो इनकी इच्छा नहीं करता।
English
Lord Shri Krishna replied: O Prince! He who shuns not the Quality which is present, and longs not for that which is absent;
Krishna says such a person neither hates illumination, activity, or delusion when present, nor longs for them when absent.
Krishna
14.23
उदासीनवदासीनो गुणैर्यो न विचाल्यते। गुणा वर्तन्त इत्येव योऽवतिष्ठति नेङ्गते॥
udāsīnavadāsīno guṇairyo na vicālyate, guṇā vartanta ityeva yo'vatiṣṭhati neṅgate.
हिन्दी अर्थ
जो उदासीनकी तरह स्थित है और जो गुणोंके द्वारा विचलित नहीं किया जा सकता तथा गुण ही (गुणोंमें) बरत रहे हैं -- इस भावसे जो अपने स्वरूपमें ही स्थित रहता है और स्वयं कोई भी चेष्टा नहीं करता।
English
He who maintains an attitude of indifference, who is not disturbed by the Qualities, who realises that it is only they who act, and remains calm;
Remaining detached like a witness, undisturbed by the qualities, understanding that only the qualities are acting, such a person remains firm.
Krishna
14.24
समदुःखसुखः स्वस्थः समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः। तुल्यप्रियाप्रियो धीरस्तुल्यनिन्दात्मसंस्तुतिः॥
samaduḥkhasukhaḥ svasthaḥ samaloṣṭāśmakāñcanaḥ, tulyapriyāpriyo dhīrastulyanindātmasaṃstutiḥ.
हिन्दी अर्थ
जो धीर मनुष्य सुख-दुःखमें सम तथा अपने स्वरूपमें स्थित रहता है; जो मिट्टीके ढेले, पत्थर और सोनेमें सम रहता है जो प्रिय-अप्रियमें तथा अपनी निन्दा-स्तुतिमें सम रहता है; जो मान-अपमानमें तथा मित्र-शत्रुके पक्षमें सम रहता है जो सम्पूर्ण कर्मोंके आरम्भका त्यागी है, वह मनुष्य गुणातीत कहा जाता है।
English
Who accepts pain and pleasure as it comes, is centred in his Self, to whom a piece of clay or stone or gold are the same, who neither likes nor dislikes, who is steadfast, indifferent alike to praise or censure;
Equal in pleasure and pain, self-abiding, seeing a clod of earth, a stone, and gold as the same, equal toward the pleasant and unpleasant, steady, and unmoved by praise or blame.
Krishna
14.25
मानापमानयोस्तुल्यस्तुल्यो मित्रारिपक्षयोः। सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी गुणातीतः स उच्यते॥
mānāpamānayostulyastulyo mitrāripakṣayoḥ, sarvārambhaparityāgī guṇātītaḥ sa ucyate.
हिन्दी अर्थ
जो धीर मनुष्य सुख-दुःखमें सम तथा अपने स्वरूपमें स्थित रहता है; जो मिट्टीके ढेले, पत्थर और सोनेमें सम रहता है जो प्रिय-अप्रियमें तथा अपनी निन्दा-स्तुतिमें सम रहता है जो मान-अपमानमें तथा मित्र-शत्रुके पक्षमें सम रहता है; जो सम्पूर्ण कर्मोंके आरम्भका त्यागी है, वह मनुष्य गुणातीत कहा जाता है।
English
Who looks equally upon honour and dishonour, loves friends and foes alike, abandons all initiative, such is he who transcends the Qualities.
Equal in honor and dishonor, equal toward friend and foe, having abandoned all self-centered undertakings -- such a person is said to have transcended the qualities.
Krishna
14.26
मां च योऽव्यभिचारेण भक्तियोगेन सेवते। स गुणान्समतीत्यैतान् ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते॥
māṃ ca yo'vyabhicāreṇa bhaktiyogena sevate, sa guṇānsamatītyaitān brahmabhūyāya kalpate.
हिन्दी अर्थ
जो मनुष्य अव्यभिचारी भक्तियोगके द्वारा मेरा सेवन करता है, वह इन गुणोंका अतिक्रमण करके ब्रह्मप्राप्तिका पात्र हो जाता है।
English
And he who serves Me and only Me, with unfaltering devotion, shall overcome the Qualities, and become One with the Eternal.
One who serves Krishna with unwavering devotion, having transcended these qualities, becomes fit to attain Brahman.
Krishna
14.27
ब्रह्मणो हि प्रतिष्ठाऽहममृतस्याव्ययस्य च। शाश्वतस्य च धर्मस्य सुखस्यैकान्तिकस्य च॥
brahmaṇo hi pratiṣṭhā'hamamṛtasyāvyayasya ca, śāśvatasya ca dharmasya sukhasyaikāntikasya ca.
हिन्दी अर्थ
क्योंकि ब्रह्म, अविनाशी अमृत, शाश्वत धर्म और ऐकान्तिक सुखका आश्रय मैं ही हूँ।
English
For I am the Home of the Spirit, the continual Source of immortality, of eternal Righteousness and of infinite Joy.
Krishna declares himself the foundation of the imperishable Brahman, of eternal righteousness, and of unending bliss.