Verse 14.5 : Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga "Three Modes of Nature"
Verse 5 of 27
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The Translation
“Sattva (goodness), Rajas (passion), and Tamas (ignorance)—these three qualities, born of material nature, bind the imperishable soul within the physical body, O mighty-armed Arjuna.”
Commentary & Insights
Krishna introduces the central theme of the chapter: the three modes (gunas) of material nature—Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas—which bind the imperishable soul within the physical body.
Practical Application
1
Observe how your personality reactively responds to triggers today; step back and treat these reactions as woven habits of your biology, not your true Self.
Reflections & Notes
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Self-Reflection Prompts
- The word 'guna' means 'rope.' How do the qualities of goodness (Sattva), passion (Rajas), and laziness (Tamas) act as invisible ropes that bind your mind? Can you observe them?
- If the soul is 'imperishable' (avyaya), how can it be bound by material qualities? What is the nature of this bondage?
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14.5
सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणाः प्रकृतिसम्भवाः
The Atman is ever-free and cannot be physically bound. The bondage is illusory (Adhyasa), caused by the soul's identification with the gunas. When the mind is filled with Sattva, the soul thinks 'I am happy'; when filled with Rajas, it thinks 'I am active'; when filled with Tamas, it thinks 'I am dull.' This identification is the bond.