Chapter 14, Verse 6 (Bhagavad Gita 14.6)
Chapter 14: Guṇa Traya Vibhāg Yog – Yoga through Understanding the Three Modes of Material Nature
Sanskrit Shloka
तत्र सत्त्वं निर्मलत्वात्प्रकाशकमनामयम्।सुखसङ्गेन बध्नाति ज्ञानसङ्गेन चानघ
Transliteration
tatra sattvaṁ nirmalatvāt prakāśhakam anāmayam sukha-saṅgena badhnāti jñāna-saṅgena chānagha
Word Meanings
tatra—amongst these; sattvam—mode of goodness; nirmalatvāt—being purest; prakāśhakam—illuminating; anāmayam—healthy and full of well-being; sukha—happiness; saṅgena—attachment; badhnāti—binds; jñāna—knowledge; saṅgena—attachment; cha—also; anagha—Arjun, the sinless one
Translation
O sinless Arjuna, of these three modes, the mode of goodness (sattva-guna), being purer than the others, is illuminating and free from all vice; it binds the soul by attachment to happiness and attachment to knowledge.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound revelation, Lord Krishna explains that even the highest quality of material nature, goodness, acts as a golden shackle for the soul. While sattva-guna brings clarity and peace, the seeker often becomes attached to the comfort and intellectual pride it provides, which keeps one bound to the cycle of samsara. Bhagwan Shri Krishna invites us to transcend even this purity, as true liberation lies not in material happiness or worldly knowledge, but in surrendering to His divine transcendental nature. By acknowledging that these modes are merely expressions of His material energy, the devotee can eventually rise above them to attain the supreme state of Krishna consciousness. Only by fixing the mind on the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord can the soul truly break free from all ties, including the subtle bonds of virtue.