Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 14 · Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 14.9 सत्त्वं सुखे सञ्जयति रजः कर्मणि भारत
श्लोक 14.9
सत्त्वं सुखे सञ्जयति रजः कर्मणि भारत ।
ज्ञानमावृत्य तु तमः प्रमादे सञ्जयत्युत ॥
sattvaṃ sukhe sañjayati rajaḥ karmaṇi bhārata |
jñānamāvṛtya tu tamaḥ pramāde sañjayatyuta ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे भारत, सत्त्व गुण मनुष्य को सुख में लगाता है, रजोगुण कर्म में, और तमोगुण ज्ञान को ढककर उसे प्रमाद (लापरवाही) में लगा देता है।
Meaning in English
Sattva binds one to happiness, and rajas to action, O Bharata, while tamas, covering over knowledge, binds one to carelessness and neglect.
Bhagavad Gita 14.9 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| सत्त्वम् | sattvam | sattva |
| सुखे | sukhe | to happiness |
| सञ्जयति | sañjayati | attaches |
| रजः | rajaḥ | rajas |
| कर्मणि | karmaṇi | to action |
| भारत | bhārata | O Bharata |
| ज्ञानम् | jñānam | knowledge |
| आवृत्य | āvṛtya | covering |
| तु | tu | but |
| तमः | tamaḥ | tamas |
| प्रमादे | pramāde | to carelessness |
| सञ्जयति | sañjayati | attaches |
| उत | uta | indeed |
Explanation
Sattva attaches one to happiness, rajas to action, O Bharata, while tamas, veiling knowledge, attaches one to carelessness. Each guna has its own hook: sattva the comfort of contentment, rajas the pull of busyness, and tamas the drag of negligence that hides what is right.
This verse summarises the binding power of each guna in a single line. Each has its own kind of hook: the comfort of contentment, the pull of activity and the drag of negligence. Shankara notes that tamas works by covering discrimination, so one cannot even see what is right. The summary prepares for the next verse, which shows how the gunas constantly compete for dominance in every person.
भावार्थ
हे भारत! सत्त्वगुण सुख में लगाता है, रजोगुण कर्म में, और तमोगुण ज्ञान को ढककर प्रमाद में लगाता है। हर गुण अपनी तरह से मनुष्य को बाँधता है। इन्हें पहचानना आवश्यक है।
Living it today
Ask at the end of each day: what hooked me today, comfort, busyness or carelessness? Patterns soon become clear.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 14.9?
Sattva attaches one to happiness, rajas to action, O Bharata, while tamas, veiling knowledge, attaches one to carelessness. Each guna has its own hook: sattva the comfort of contentment, rajas the pull of busyness, and tamas the drag of negligence that hides what is right.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 14.9?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 14 (Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 14.9 in daily life?
Ask at the end of each day: what hooked me today, comfort, busyness or carelessness? Patterns soon become clear.
Reflected on verse 14.9?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.