Chapter 14 Verse 5
Guṇa Traya Vibhāg Yog
सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणाः प्रकृतिसंभवाः।निबध्नन्ति महाबाहो देहे देहिनमव्ययम्।।14.5।।
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
These qualities, O Arjuna, born of Nature, bind fast in the body of the embodied, the indestructible: purity, passion, and inertia.
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
This verse says that three basic qualities — goodness (sattva), passion (rajas), and ignorance (tamas) — arise from nature and stick to the living being. These qualities shape our mind, habits, and how we act in the world.
The soul itself is eternal and unchanged, but these modes cover it and make it feel bound by the body and life. They are not the true self; they are forces that bind the self through desire, confusion, or inertia.
Spiritual progress means seeing these qualities clearly, reducing what binds you, and cultivating clarity and balance. Ultimately the aim is to rise above all three modes and realize the free, unchanging self.
Life Application
- Notice which quality guides you today: calm clarity (sattva), restless drive (rajas), or dull avoidance (tamas). Naming it helps you respond rather than react.
- Use simple practices to increase balance: regular sleep, wholesome food, short meditation or quiet time, and steady work without excess stress.
- When you feel stuck or overwhelmed, pause, breathe, and remind yourself you are not your moods; choose one small steady action toward clarity.
Reflection Question
Which of the three qualities is most influencing my thoughts and choices right now?