CHAPTER
NO 14
In this chapter, discussion in centred around three modes of nature viz, satva, raja and tamo modes-their origin, farm, behavior and power. How they interact with the soul and bind it to the body, and how once beyond these modes, perfection is attained. Therefore, the chapter is called "The yoga of Differentiation of the three modes".
Shri
bhagavan uvacha
- parambhuyah
pravakshyami
gyananam gyanamuttamam
yat gyatva munayah sarve
param siddhimiti gatah
The
blessed Lord said, I shall reiterate the supreme wisdom among all wisdom by
knowing which sages have been able to reach perfection.
- idam
gyanam upashritya
mam sadharmyam agatah
sarge api na upajayante
pralaye na vyathanti cha
By
relying upon this wisdom and having attained to my form, they are neither born
at the time of creation, nor are they distressed at the time of dissolution.
- mama
yoni mahat brahman
tasmin gurbham dadhami aham
sambhavah sarvabhutanam tatah
bhavati bharata
The
great brahma is my womb, I cast the seed of creation of all beings and they are
born of it O, Bharata (Arjuna).
- sarvayonishu
kaunteya
murtayah sambhavanti yah
tasam brahman mahat yonih
aham beejapradah pitah
All
the forms (bodies) produced in all the wombs, O Son of Kunti (Arjuna), great
brahma (prakriti) is their mother and I am the father (Purusha) who casts the
seed.
- satvam
rajah tamah iti
gunah prakritisambhavah
nibandhanti mahabaho
dehe dehinam avyayam
The
three modes (gunas) purity (suttva) passion (rajas) and inertia (dullness) born
of nature (prakriti) bind into the body, O Arjuna, the imperishable dweller in
the body.
- tatra
satvam nirmalvat
prakashkam anamayam
sukhasangena badhanati
gyansangena cha anagh
Of
these qualities, satlva, that is purity, causes, illuminationa and purity. It
binds, O Arjuna by attachments to happiness and to knowledge.
- rajah
nagatmakam viddhih
trishna sangasamudbhavam
tat nibandhati kaunteya
karmasanseva dehinam
Rajas
(passion) you should know, is of the quality of attraction resulting from desire
and attachment. It binds quickly, O Son of Kunti (Arjuna), the soul by
attachment to action.
- tamah
tu agyanajam
viddhi mohanam sarvadehinam
pramadalsya nidrabhih tata
nibandhati bharata
But
inertia (tamas) you should know, is resulted from ignorance and bequiles all
embodied beings. O Bharata (Arjuna), it birds by engendering the qualities of
negligence, laziness and sleep.
- sattvam
sukhe sanjayati
rajah karmani bharata
gyanam avritya tu tamah
pramade sanjayati ut
Purity
attaches one to happiness, passion is caused of action, O Arjuna, but inertia by
covering wisdom attaches to negligence.
- rajah
tamah cha abhibhuya
satvam bhavati bharata
rajah satvam tamah cha eva
Purity
prevails, overcoming passion andinertia, O Arjuna. Passion prevails subdueing
purity and inertia and thus inertia prevails overpowing purity and passion.
- saruadvaveshu
dehe asmin
prakashah upjayate
gyanam yada tada vidyat
vivridham satnam iti ut
When
the light of knowledge spreads through all the gates of the body, then it is
known that the purity has increased.
- lobhah
pravitrih arambhah
karmanam ashavnah spriha
rajasi etani jayante
virridhe bharatavshabhah
Avarice
activity, initiative restlessness and desires – result from the increase and
desires – result it from the increase in the rajas qualities, O Best among the
bharatas (Arjuna).
- aprakashah
apravitih cha
pramadah mohah eva cha
tamasi etami jayante
vivridhe kurunandan
Darkness,
slothfulness, negligence and delusion – these are caused by the increase of
inertia or indolence inducing tama – O Joy of kurvs (Arjuna).
- yata
satve pravridhe tu
prakyam yati dehbhrit
tada uttamvidam lokan
amalan pratipadhyate
When
the self is dissolved, when the goodness become predominant then it reaches to
the world of purity of those who have known the highest (Brahmalok).
- rajasi
pralayam gatva
karmasangishu jayate
tatha pralinah tamasi
mudhayonishu jayate
When
passion becomes predominant at the time of dissolution (of the world) it is born
in the world of those attached to activities and if it is dissolved when
dullness or inertia is overpowering quality, it is born into the womb of the
ignorant.
- karmanah
sukritasya ahuh
satvika nirmalam phalam
rajasah tu phelam duhkham
agyanam tamasah phalam
The
results of the good action is said to be of the quality of goodness and purity,
while the passion causes pain and ignorance is the fruit of inertia.
- satvat
sanjayate gyanam
rajasah lobhah eva cha
pramadmoha tamasah bhavatah
agyanam eva cha
Knowledge
is resulted from purity, passion gives rise to avarice, ignorance and delusion
are caused by inertia as also erroneous action.
- urdham
gachhanti satvasthah
madhye tisthanti rajasah
jaghanya gunavritisthah
adhah gachhanti tamasah
Who
are set in goodness rise upwards the passionate remain in the middle regions the
inert involved in.
- na
anyamgunebhyah kartaram
yada dristva anupashyati
gunebhyah cha parava vetti
madbhavan sah adhigachhati
When
the sage perceived factor other than modes, and also knows what is beyond the
modes (gunatit) he attains to my form.
- gunam
etam atitya trini
dehi dehsamudhavana
gunvna mrityajara duhkhaih
vinuktah amritam ashnute
When
the self roars above these three qualities arising from the body, it goes beyond
birth, death, decay and pain and reaches the state of permanent blissfulness
when there is no birth or death.
Arjuna uvacha
- kaih
lingaih trina gunana
etan atitah bhavati prabho
kimachavah katham cha etan
trini gunan ativartate
Arjuna
said, O Lord by, whan sign can one be known who has gone beyond the three
qualities (gunas)? How does he live? How does he manage to reach beyond the
modes?
Shri bhagavan uvacha
- prakasham
cha pravritim cha
mohameva cha pandava
na dvesti sam pravittani ha
nivritani kanchhati
The
blessed Lord said, O Arjuna, he does not abhor illumination, activity and
delusion when they spring, nor crave for them when they cease to exist.
- udasinvat
asinah gunaih
yah na vichalyate
gunah vartante eti eva yah
avatisthati na ingate
He,
who sitting unconcernedly, without being disturbed by the modes or qualities (gunas),
who stands aloof, without faltering, knowing that it is the modes that act and
react.
- samadukhsukhah
swasthah
samaloshtashanakanchanah
tulyapriyapriyah dhirah
tulyaninda tma sanstutih
he
who treats pleasure and pain similarily, who is established in one self, who
regards a dod, a stone and piece of gold as of equal value, whose mind is even
amidst things pleasant or impleasant, firm of mind.
- manapamanyoh
tulyah
tulyah mitraripapakshayoh
sarvarambha parityasi
gunatitah sah uchyate
he
who regards honour and dishonour as the same and is same to friends and foes who
shuns all initiative to action is said to have risen beyond the modes or gunas
of nature.
- mam
cha yat avyabhichavena
bhaktiyogena sevate
sah gunan samatitya etan
brahma bhuyay kalpate
He
who is devoted to me, steadily and serves me with love, transcends these three
qalities and, he too is fit to reach Brahman.
- brahmanah
hi pratistha aham
amritasya avyayasya cha
shashvatasya cha dharmasya
sukhasyai kantikasya cha
Because
Iam the dwelling place of Brahman, the Immortal, the Imperishable of everlasting
law and of eternal bliss.
