Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14 - The Yoga of the Division of the Three Gunas

The Yoga of the Division of the Three Gunas is the heading of Chapter 14 in the Bhagavad Gita.



In the Bhagavad Gita - Text and Commentary by Sri Sivananda (Sivananda Press Durban SA) the discourse (summary) is as follows:

The knowledge of the three cosmic qualities or Gunas, namely, Sattwa, Rajas, and Tamas is now given through this discourse. The knowledge of these three Gunas, which hold the entire universe and all creatures under their sway, is of vital importance to each and everyone for their progress and happiness in life. Without this knowledge one will be forever bound by sorrow. In this knowledge we have the secret of success in worldly life as well as in spiritual life. Therefore, one must acquire this precious knowledge.

Lord Krishna reveals that these three qualities compose the Cosmic Nature. This Cosmic Nature is the primal source and origin of the entire creation and all things in it. Hence all things created are subject to their influenc and irresistible power. The individual soul also is bound to the body by these three qualities--Sattwa, Rajas and TAmas -- present in Cosmic Nature. The Supreme Beilng brings about creation through the help of His Prikriti (Nature) endowed with these three fold qualities.

The highest of the three qualities is Sattwa. It is pure. It brings about happiness, wisdom and also illumination. The second quality of Rajas gives rise to passion manifested by intense attachment and greed. It causes sorrow and suffering. The third, termed Tamas, is the worst of all. It arises due to ignorance and results in darkness, lethargy and delusion.

Krishna asks us to diligently endeavour and cast out Tamas from our nature. W should control and master Rajas, and by holding it in check, wisely divert its power towards good kinds activities. Sattwa should be carefully cultivated, developed and conserved in order to enable us to attain immortality. The realised sage, of course, goes beyond all these qualities, for, although it is Sattwa that enables us to reach God, even this quality will bind us if we are attached to it.

The aspirant should know the symptoms and signs of their presence in his personality and acquire knowledge of their subtle-workings. Then only can he keep smooth and unhampered in his progress in all the fields of his life, both secularly and spiritually. Lord Krishna teaches us this important subject in this discourse form the ninth to the eighteenth verse. He declares that one who rises beyond all the three Gunas through spiritual practices, becomes free from birth, death, old age and sorrow, and enjoys immortality.

In reply to a question from Arjuna, the blessed Lord describes the marks of one who has risen above the three Gunas. He state that if one constantly worships Him with exclusive devotion one will attain the highest divine experience and supreme blessedness.

14.1 - sri-bhagavan uvaca param bhuyah pravaksyami jnananam jnanam uttamam yaj jnatva munayah sarve param siddhim ito gatah - The Blessed Lord said: Again I shall declare to you this supreme wisdom, the best of all knowledge, knowing which all the sages have attained the supreme perfection.

14.2 - idam jnanam upasritya mama sadharmyam agatah sarge 'pi nopajayante pralaye na vyathanti ca - By becoming fixed in this knowledge, one can attain to the transcendental nature, which is like My own nature. Thus established, one is not born at the time of creation nor disturbed at the time of dissolution.

14.3 - mama yonir mahad brahma tasmin garbham dadhamy aham sambhavah sarva-bhutanam tato bhavati bharata - The total material substance, called Brahman, is the source of birth, and it is that Brahman that I impregnate, making possible the births of all living beings, O son of Bharata.

14.4 - sarva-yonisu kaunteya murtayah sambhavanti yah tasam brahma mahad yonir aham bija-pradah pita- It should be understood that all species of life, O son of Kunti, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the seed-giving father.

14.5 - sattvam rajas tama iti gunah prakrti-sambhavah nibadhnanti maha-baho dehe dehinam avyayam - Material nature consists of the three modes--goodness, passion and ignorance. When the living entity comes in contact with nature, he becomes conditioned by these modes.

14.6 - tatra sattvam nirmalatvat prakasakam anamayam sukha-sangena badhnati jnana-sangena canagha - O sinless one, the mode of goodness being purer than the others, is illuminating, and it frees one from all sinful reactions. Those situated in that mode develop knowledge, but they become conditioned by the concept of happiness.

14.7 - rajo ragatmakam viddhi trsna-sanga-samudbhavam tan nibadhnati kaunteya karma-sangena dehinam - The mode of passion is born of unlimited desires and longings, O son of Kunti, and because of this one is bound to material fruitive activities.

14.8 - tamas tv ajnana-jam viddhi mohanam sarva-dehinam pramadalasya-nidrabhis tan nibadhnati bharata - O son of Bharata, the mode of ignorance causes the delusion of all living entities. The result of this mode is madness, indolence and sleep, which bind the conditioned soul

14.9 - sattvam sukhe sanjayati rajah karmani bharata jnanam avrtya tu tamah pramade sanjayaty uta - The mode of goodness conditions one to happiness, passion conditions him to the fruits of action, and ignorance to madness.

14.10 - rajas tamas cabhibhuya sattvam bhavati bharata rajah sattvam tamas caiva tamah sattvam rajas tatha - Sometimes the mode of passion becomes prominent, defeating the mode of goodness, O son of Bharata. And sometimes the mode of goodness defeats passion, and at other times the mode of ignorance defeats goodness and passion. In this way there is always competition for supremacy.

Click here to see the rest of the verses from Chapter 14 .