The Gita

Chapter 14 · Verse 5 of 27

The Yoga of the Division of the Three Gunas

गुणत्रयविभागयोग

Meaning

Supreme God Krishna spoke

O Mighty-armed Arjuna, the three attributes of Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas, which emanate from Nature, bind the soul, the master of the body, to the physical form. (14:5)

Sanskrit

श्रीभगवान् उवाच

सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणाः प्रकृतिसम्भवाः ।

निबध्नन्ति महाबाहो देहे देहिनमव्ययम्॥

Word-by-word

सत्त्वम् रजः तमः इति गुणाः प्रकृति-सम्भवाः,

नि-बध्नन्ति महा-बाहो देहे देहिनम् अ-व्ययम्।

Commentary

The Gunas indeed bind the soul to the body, but in the order of God’s Creation, the soul itself initially attracts the elements of the body under formation and volunteers to be bound by them. (15:7)

PreviousNext