Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 7 · Jnana Vijnana Yoga

Bhagavad Gita 7.12 ये चैव सात्त्विका भावा राजसास्तामसाश्च ये

Sri Krishna Chapter 7, Verse 12 With word-by-word notes

श्लोक 7.12

ये चैव सात्त्विका भावा राजसास्तामसाश्च ये ।
मत्त एवेति तान्विद्धि न त्वहं तेषु ते मयि ॥

ye caiva sāttvikā bhāvā rājasāstāmasāśca ye |
matta eveti tānviddhi na tvahaṃ teṣu te mayi ||

हिन्दी अर्थ

जितने भी सात्त्विक, राजसिक और तामसिक भाव हैं, उन सबको मुझसे ही उत्पन्न जानो। फिर भी मैं उनमें नहीं हूँ, वे मुझमें हैं।

Meaning in English

Whatever states of being there are - sattvic (pure), rajasic (active) or tamasic (dull) - know that they all come from Me alone. Yet I am not in them; they are in Me.

Bhagavad Gita 7.12 — word by word

WordTransliterationMeaning
ये च एवye ca evaand whatever
सात्त्विकाःsāttvikāḥof sattva
भावाःbhāvāḥstates of being
राजसाःrājasāḥof rajas
तामसाः च येtāmasāḥ ca yeand those of tamas
मत्तः एवmattaḥ evafrom me alone
इतिitithus
तान् विद्धिtān viddhiknow them
न तु अहम्na tu ahambut I am not
तेषुteṣuin them
ते मयिte mayithey are in me

Explanation

Whatever states of being there are, whether of sattva, rajas or tamas, know that they arise from me alone. Yet I am not in them; they are in me. The Divine is their source but is not bound or limited by them.

The three gunas, goodness, passion and inertia, make up all of nature. The paradox of the second line, I am not in them but they are in me, is explained by Shankara as the Lord not being dependent on or affected by the gunas, while they depend on him. Ramanuja reads it as the gunas being controlled and supported by the Lord, who is not under their control. A similar paradox appears in 9.4 and 9.5. The verse leads to the next, which explains why people fail to see beyond the gunas.

भावार्थ

जो भी सात्त्विक, राजस और तामस भाव हैं, उन सबको मुझसे ही उत्पन्न जानो; परन्तु मैं उनमें नहीं हूँ, वे मुझमें हैं। मैं उनका आधार हूँ, पर उनसे बँधा हुआ नहीं।

Living it today

Your moods of clarity, restlessness and dullness all come and go; stay rooted in the awareness that holds them, not in the moods themselves.

Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 7.12?

Whatever states of being there are, whether of sattva, rajas or tamas, know that they arise from me alone. Yet I am not in them; they are in me. The Divine is their source but is not bound or limited by them.

Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 7.12?

Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 7 (Jnana Vijnana Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.

How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 7.12 in daily life?

Your moods of clarity, restlessness and dullness all come and go; stay rooted in the awareness that holds them, not in the moods themselves.

Reflected on verse 7.12?

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