Chapter 18, Verse 19 (Bhagavad Gita 18.19)
Chapter 18: Mokṣha Sanyās Yog – Yoga through the Perfection of Renunciation and Surrender
Sanskrit Shloka
ज्ञानं कर्म च कर्ता च त्रिधैव गुणभेदतः।प्रोच्यते गुणसंख्याने यथावच्छृणु तान्यपि
Transliteration
jñānaṁ karma cha kartā cha tridhaiva guṇa-bhedataḥ prochyate guṇa-saṅkhyāne yathāvach chhṛiṇu tāny api
Word Meanings
jñānam—knowledge; karma—action; cha—and; kartā—doer; cha—also; tridhā—of three kinds; eva—certainly; guṇa-bhedataḥ—distinguished according to the three modes of material nature; prochyate—are declared; guṇa-saṅkhyāne—Sānkhya philosophy, which describes the modes of material nature; yathā-vat—as they are; śhṛiṇu—listen; tāni—them; api—also
Translation
Knowledge, action, and the performer of action are declared in the science of the Gunas (Sankhya) to be of three types only, according to the distinction of the Gunas. Hear of them from Me as they truly are.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound revelation, Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, begins to categorize the material manifestations of existence. He reveals that every aspect of human life—what we know, what we do, and who we think we are—is bound by the three modes of material nature (Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas). By inviting Arjuna to hear these truths directly from Him, Bhagwan Shri Krishna emphasizes that true knowledge is not merely intellectual, but a divine science that leads to liberation. Understanding this classification is essential for a seeker to transcend the influence of the Gunas and attain the state of pure devotion. Ultimately, Yogeshwar Krishna guides the soul to recognize that while the Gunas dictate worldly entanglement, the path to Moksha lies in surrendering to His eternal, transcendental grace.