Chapter 14, Verse 5 (Bhagavad Gita 14.5)
Chapter 14: Guṇa Traya Vibhāg Yog – Yoga through Understanding the Three Modes of Material Nature
Sanskrit Shloka
सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणाः प्रकृतिसंभवाः।निबध्नन्ति महाबाहो देहे देहिनमव्ययम्
Transliteration
sattvaṁ rajas tama iti guṇāḥ prakṛiti-sambhavāḥ nibadhnanti mahā-bāho dehe dehinam avyayam
Word Meanings
sattvam—mode of goodness; rajaḥ—mode of passion; tamaḥ—mode of ignorance; iti—thus; guṇāḥ—modes; prakṛiti—material nature; sambhavāḥ—consists of; nibadhnanti—bind; mahā-bāho—mighty-armed one; dehe—in the body; dehinam—the embodied soul; avyayam—eternal
Translation
Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas — these three modes born of material nature, O mighty-armed Arjuna, bind the eternal soul to the physical body.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound revelation, Bhagwan Shri Krishna explains that while the soul is eternally indestructible and divine, it becomes conditioned by the three modes of material nature known as Gunas. These Gunas act like chains of gold, silver, and iron, restricting the soul's infinite potential within the limitations of a mortal frame. Shri Krishna teaches that true liberation begins when a seeker realizes their essence is beyond these qualities, which are merely manifestations of His external energy, Maya. By transcending these modes through devotion and surrender unto Him, the individual soul breaks the cycle of birth and death. Ultimately, Shri Krishna invites the seeker to look past the physical form and realize their eternal, spiritual identity in union with Him.