Bhagavad Gita · Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga — The Three Modes of Nature

Chapter 14, Verse 10

"Bhagavad Gita 14.10" — meaning and explanation.

रजस्तमश्चाभिभूय सत्त्वं भवति भारत | रजः सत्त्वं तमश्चैव तमः सत्त्वं रजस्तथा

rajastamaścābhibhūya sattvaṃ bhavati bhārata . rajaḥ sattvaṃ tamaścaiva tamaḥ sattvaṃ rajastathā

Meaning

14.10 Now Sattva arises (prevails), O Arjuna, having overpowered Rajas and Tamas; nor Rajas, having overpowered Sattva and Tamas; and now Tamas, having overpowered Sattva and Rajas.

।।14.10।। हे भारत ! कभी रज और तम को अभिभूत (दबा) करके सत्त्वगुण की वृद्धि होती है, कभी रज और सत्त्व को दबाकर तमोगुण की वृद्धि होती है, तो कभी तम और सत्त्व को अभिभूत कर रजोगुण की वृद्धि होती है।।

Explanation

14.10 रजः Rajas? तमः inertia? च and? अभिभूय having overpowered? सत्त्वम् Sattva? भवति arises? भारत O Arjuna? रजः Rajas? सत्त्वम् Sattva? तमः inertia? च and? एव even? तमः inertia? सत्त्वम् purity? रजः active force? तथा also.Commentary Just as winter has its sway when summer and autumn have gone? just as sleep has its sway when a man is neither dreaming nor waking? so also Sattva has its sway when Rajas and Tamas are suppressed and makes people say that they are happy. The Sadhana for increasing Sattva is given in the 17th and 18th chapters.Each ality acts in its own turn at different times. All the three alities cannot operate at one and the same time. When one ality asserts itself or prdominates by overpowering or suppressing the other two? it produces its own effect. Sattva produces knowledge and happiness Rajas action Tamas veiling of knowledge? inertia? error? indolence? sloth and sleep. When Sattva is in the ascendant in a man? he is endowed with discrimination. Sublime thoughts roll in his mind. He has pure understanding. His mind turns away from sensual pleasures and moves inward towards the Self.What is the characteristic mark by which you can know that a particular ality is predominant or is in the ascendant The answer is given in the following three verses.

Life Lesson

Study Bhagavad Gita 14.10 slowly, then express its central teaching through one thoughtful action in daily life.

Context

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14, verse 10, from Krishna's dialogue with Arjuna at Kurukshetra.

Bhagavad Gita 14.10

This page presents the Sanskrit verse, transliteration, Hindi meaning, English meaning, and a simple explanation for study. For a fuller understanding, read this shloka in sequence with the rest of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bhagavad Gita 14.10 mean?

14.10 Now Sattva arises (prevails), O Arjuna, having overpowered Rajas and Tamas; nor Rajas, having overpowered Sattva and Tamas; and now Tamas, having overpowered Sattva and Rajas.

What is the life lesson of this verse?

Study Bhagavad Gita 14.10 slowly, then express its central teaching through one thoughtful action in daily life.

What is the context of this verse?

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14, verse 10, from Krishna's dialogue with Arjuna at Kurukshetra.