Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 13 · Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 13.22 पुरुषः प्रकृतिस्थो हि भुङ्क्ते
श्लोक 13.22
पुरुषः प्रकृतिस्थो हि भुङ्क्ते प्रकृतिजान्गुणान् ।
कारणं गुणसङ्गोऽस्य सदसद्योनिजन्मसु ॥
puruṣaḥ prakṛtistho hi bhuṅkte prakṛtijānguṇān |
kāraṇaṃ guṇasaṅgo'sya sadasadyonijanmasu ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
प्रकृति में स्थित पुरुष ही प्रकृति से उत्पन्न गुणों को भोगता है। इन गुणों के प्रति आसक्ति ही उसके अच्छी-बुरी योनियों में जन्म लेने का कारण है।
Meaning in English
Dwelling in Prakriti, the Purusha experiences the gunas born of Prakriti. Its attachment to these gunas is the cause of its births in good and evil wombs.
Bhagavad Gita 13.22 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| पुरुषः | puruṣaḥ | the spirit |
| प्रकृतिस्थः | prakṛti-sthaḥ | seated in nature |
| हि | hi | indeed |
| भुङ्क्ते | bhuṅkte | experiences |
| प्रकृतिजान् | prakṛti-jān | born of nature |
| गुणान् | guṇān | the qualities |
| कारणम् | kāraṇam | the cause |
| गुणसङ्गः | guṇa-saṅgaḥ | attachment to the qualities |
| अस्य | asya | its |
| सदसद्योनिजन्मसु | sad-asad-yoni-janmasu | of births in good and evil wombs |
Explanation
The spirit, seated in nature, experiences the qualities born of nature. Its attachment to those qualities is the cause of its births in good and bad wombs. In short, it is attachment, not experience itself, that keeps the cycle of rebirth turning.
This verse explains how the free spirit comes to be bound. It is not nature itself that binds, but attachment to the gunas. Identifying with the body and clinging to its experiences leads to further births, higher or lower according to that attachment. Shankara calls this union of spirit and nature the root of samsara caused by ignorance. Ramanuja speaks of the soul's beginningless karma producing contact with matter.
भावार्थ
प्रकृति में स्थित पुरुष ही प्रकृति से उत्पन्न गुणों को भोगता है। इन गुणों का संग ही इसके अच्छी-बुरी योनियों में जन्म लेने का कारण है। बन्धन अनुभव से नहीं, आसक्ति से होता है।
Living it today
It is not having experiences that binds us but clinging to them. Enjoy, then let go.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 13.22?
The spirit, seated in nature, experiences the qualities born of nature. Its attachment to those qualities is the cause of its births in good and bad wombs. In short, it is attachment, not experience itself, that keeps the cycle of rebirth turning.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 13.22?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 13 (Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 13.22 in daily life?
It is not having experiences that binds us but clinging to them. Enjoy, then let go.
Reflected on verse 13.22?
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