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

Chapter 14, Verse 17

"Bhagavad Gita 14.17" — meaning and explanation.

Meaning

14.17 From Sattva arises knowledge, and greed from Rajas; heedlessness and delusion arise from Tamas, and also ignorance.

।।14.17।। सत्त्वगुण से ज्ञान उत्पन्न होता है। रजोगुण से लोभ तथा तमोगुण से प्रमाद, मोह और अज्ञान उत्पन्न होता है।।

Explanation

14.17 सत्त्वात् from purity? सञ्जायते arises? ज्ञानम् knowledge? रजसः from activity? लोभः greed? एव even? च and? प्रमादमोहौ heedlessness and delusion? तमसः from inertia? अज्ञानम् ignorance? एव even? च and.Commentary From Sattva When Sattva becomes predominant. Sattva awakesn knowledge just as the sun causes daylight. Sattva enlightens the intellect.Greed is insatiable like fire. Greed brings misery and pain. Greed is born of Rajas. Rajas creates insatiable desire. Rajas makes one blind to the interests and the feelings of others. A Rajasic man treats others as tools to be utilised for his own selfadvancement or selfaggrandisement.Tamas produces shortsightedness? torpor and ignorance. A Tamasic man does not think a bit of the future conseences. He completely identifies himself with the body and begins to fight with people if they injure his body or speak ill of him. He is ready to do any sinful act in retaliation. He has no sense of proportion and no sense of balance or poise.

Life Lesson

Study Bhagavad Gita 14.17 slowly, then express its central teaching through one thoughtful action in daily life.

Context

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14, verse 17, from Krishna's dialogue with Arjuna at Kurukshetra.

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