Chapter 14, Verse 22 (Bhagavad Gita 14.22)
Chapter 14: Guṇa Traya Vibhāg Yog – Yoga through Understanding the Three Modes of Material Nature
Sanskrit Shloka
श्री भगवानुवाचप्रकाशं च प्रवृत्तिं च मोहमेव च पाण्डव।न द्वेष्टि सम्प्रवृत्तानि न निवृत्तानि काङ्क्षति
Transliteration
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha prakāśhaṁ cha pravṛittiṁ cha moham eva cha pāṇḍava na dveṣhṭi sampravṛittāni na nivṛittāni kāṅkṣhati
Word Meanings
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha—the Supreme Divine Personality said; prakāśham—illumination; cha—and; pravṛittim—activity; cha—and; moham—delusion; eva—even; cha—and; pāṇḍava—Arjun, the son of Pandu; na dveṣhṭi—do not hate; sampravṛittāni—when present; na—nor; nivṛittāni—when absent; kāṅkṣhati—longs;
Translation
Shri Krishna said: He who does not abhor illumination, activity, and delusion when they are manifest, nor desires them when they are absent.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound instruction, the Supreme Lord Krishna reveals the state of a transcendental soul who has risen above the influence of the three modes of material nature (gunas). Such a devotee recognizes that light (sattva), activity (rajas), and delusion (tamas) are merely shifting manifestations of the material energy under the Lord’s command. By maintaining an equanimous mind, the seeker remains unaffected by these transient states, neither clinging to comfort nor fearing darkness. This detachment serves as the gateway to liberation, allowing the soul to dwell in the eternal consciousness of Shri Krishna. Ultimately, one who transcends these modes attains the highest state of bhakti, finding peace in the constant presence of the Divine.