Chapter 7, Verse 12 (Bhagavad Gita 7.12)
Chapter 7: Jñāna Vijñāna Yog – Self-Knowledge and Enlightenment
Sanskrit Shloka
ये चैव सात्त्विका भावा राजसास्तामसाश्च ये। मत्त एवेति तान्विद्धि नत्वहं तेषु ते मयि
Transliteration
ye chaiva sāttvikā bhāvā rājasās tāmasāśh cha ye matta eveti tān viddhi na tvahaṁ teṣhu te mayi
Word Meanings
ye—whatever; cha—and; eva—certainly; sāttvikāḥ—in the mode of goodness; bhāvāḥ—states of material existence; rājasāḥ—in the mode of passion; tāmasāḥ—in the mode of ignorance; cha—and; ye—whatever; mattaḥ—from me; eva—certainly; iti—thus; tān—those; viddhi—know; na—not; tu—but; aham—I; teṣhu—in them; te—they; mayi—in me
Translation
Know that all states of being—whether they are of goodness (sattva), passion (rajas), or ignorance (tamas)—emanate from Me alone. Know that although they exist in Me, I am not in them, for I am beyond their influence.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound verse, Lord Krishna explains the origin of the three gunas, which constitute the very fabric of material existence. Lord Krishna reveals that while everything in the universe is a manifestation of His energy, He remains transcendent and untouched by the nature of these modes. This teaches us that while our bodies and minds are conditioned by various qualities, our true essence is like Lord Krishna—independent and beyond these fluctuations. By understanding this, a seeker learns to remain detached from the play of emotions and material circumstances. Ultimately, Lord Krishna invites us to look past the changing nature of the world to find the unchanging, eternal truth within ourselves.