Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 14 · Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 14.5 सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणाः प्रकृतिसम्भवाः
श्लोक 14.5
सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणाः प्रकृतिसम्भवाः ।
निबध्नन्ति महाबाहो देहे देहिनमव्ययम् ॥
sattvaṃ rajastama iti guṇāḥ prakṛtisambhavāḥ |
nibadhnanti mahābāho dehe dehinamavyayam ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे महाबाहो (विशाल भुजाओं वाले), सत्त्व, रज और तम — प्रकृति से उत्पन्न ये तीनों गुण अविनाशी जीवात्मा को शरीर में बाँध देते हैं।
Meaning in English
Sattva, rajas and tamas — these gunas born of Prakriti bind the imperishable embodied soul to the body, O Mahabaho (mighty-armed one).
Bhagavad Gita 14.5 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| सत्त्वम् | sattvam | sattva, goodness |
| रजः | rajaḥ | rajas, passion |
| तमः | tamaḥ | tamas, inertia |
| इति | iti | thus |
| गुणाः | guṇāḥ | the qualities |
| प्रकृतिसम्भवाः | prakṛti-sambhavāḥ | born of nature |
| निबध्नन्ति | nibadhnanti | bind |
| महाबाहो | mahābāho | O mighty-armed |
| देहे | dehe | in the body |
| देहिनम् | dehinam | the embodied one |
| अव्ययम् | avyayam | imperishable |
Explanation
Sattva, rajas and tamas, the three qualities born of nature, bind the imperishable embodied self to the body, O mighty-armed one. These three strands of nature make up every body and mind, and through them the free spirit comes to feel bound and limited.
This verse introduces the three gunas by name. Guna can mean both quality and rope, and both meanings fit: these qualities are the strands of nature that tie the self down. The self itself is imperishable and unchanged, yet through identification it feels bound. Commentators stress that even sattva, the purest guna, binds. The rest of the chapter describes each guna's nature, signs and results.
भावार्थ
हे महाबाहो! सत्त्व, रज और तम — प्रकृति से उत्पन्न ये तीनों गुण अविनाशी देही (आत्मा) को शरीर में बाँधते हैं। ये तीनों गुण ही आत्मा के बन्धन का कारण बनते हैं।
Living it today
Start noticing which mood rules you right now: calm clarity, restless drive or dull heaviness. Awareness is the first step to choice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 14.5?
Sattva, rajas and tamas, the three qualities born of nature, bind the imperishable embodied self to the body, O mighty-armed one. These three strands of nature make up every body and mind, and through them the free spirit comes to feel bound and limited.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 14.5?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 14 (Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 14.5 in daily life?
Start noticing which mood rules you right now: calm clarity, restless drive or dull heaviness. Awareness is the first step to choice.
Reflected on verse 14.5?
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