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Bhagwad Gita (English) | Chapter 14 | Verse 22

Chapter 14, Verse 22

The Three Modes of Material Nature

The Blessed Lord said, "When light, activity, and delusion are present, he does not hate them, nor does he long for them when they are absent."

Verse

श्री भगवानुवाचप्रकाशं च प्रवृत्तिं च मोहमेव च पाण्डव।न द्वेष्टि सम्प्रवृत्तानि न निवृत्तानि काङ्क्षति।।14.22।।


śhrī-bhagavān uvācha
prakāśhaṁ cha pravṛittiṁ cha moham eva cha pāṇḍava
na dveṣhṭi sampravṛittāni na nivṛittāni kāṅkṣhati

Meaning of each word

śhrī-bhagavān uvācha — the Supreme Divine Personality said;
prakāśham — illumination;
cha — and;
pravṛittim — activity;
cha — and;
moham — delusion;
eva — even;
cha — and;
pāṇḍava — Arjun, the son of Pandu;
na dveṣhṭi — do not hate;
sampravṛittāni — when present;
na — nor;
nivṛittāni — when absent;
kāṅkṣhati — longs;

Interpretation

In this verse, Krishna, who is the Supreme God, is telling us about a person who sees things differently than most of us do. This person is called 'transcendentally situated' and represents someone who has a deeper understanding of life and its ups and downs. Let's break it down into simpler ideas.

1. **Light, Activity, and Delusion**: Here, 'light' stands for knowledge or awareness. It’s like when you understand something clearly. 'Activity' refers to all the work we do and passions we chase in life. This can be anything, from our jobs to hobbies. 'Delusion' means confusion or ignorance, which is when we are misled or don't see things as they really are.

2. **Neutrality**: Krishna is saying that this person does not get upset or annoyed when good things (light), busy times (activity), or confusing times (delusion) are around him or her. Imagine if you're having a bad day, but instead of getting angry or frustrated, you just accept it as a part of life. That's the attitude Krishna describes.

3. **Not Resenting**: When faced with good times (light) or a rush of activity, this person doesn't feel the urge to cling to them or hold them tight as if they are desperate to keep these good things. They also don't dislike or resist them when they go away. This means they don’t get stressed out over changes or losses. If a friend moves away, they are sad but not devastated; they understand that change is a part of life.

4. **Detached but Engaged**: Even while living in a world where we face all sorts of challenges, this person is not controlled by things like worry or strong desires. Instead, they focus on their relationship with God, through actions that serve and honor the divine. It’s about keeping a calm heart, focusing on what truly matters, and feeling at peace regardless of life's ups and downs.

5. **Ultimate Understanding**: This state of being allows one to rise above everyday emotions and attachments. Instead of getting caught up in what’s happening—like achievements or failures—they keep their eye on the bigger picture. It's like being in a boat on a river: the waters can be calm or choppy, but if you understand that you’re just passing through, you can enjoy the journey instead of fearing the waves.

So, in summary, Krishna teaches us that a wise person calmly navigates through life, unbothered by the fluctuations in good times and bad—essentially living with a sense of peace and focus on what truly matters. This mindset allows them to serve the divine without being distracted by everyday challenges.

Other Verses of Chapter 14
Verse 1
The Blessed Lord said: Again I shall declare to you this supreme wisdom, the best of all knowledge, knowing which all the sages have attained to supreme perfection.
Verse 2
By becoming fixed in this knowledge, one can attain to the transcendental nature, which is like My own nature. Thus established, one is not born at the time of creation nor disturbed at the time of dissolution.
Verse 3
The total material substance, called Brahman, is the source of birth, and it is that Brahman that I impregnate, making possible the births of all living beings, O son of Bharata.
Verse 4
It should be understood that all species of life, O son of Kunti, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the seed-giving father.
Verse 5
Material nature consists of the three modes-goodness, passion and ignorance. When the living entity comes in contact with nature, he becomes conditioned by these modes.
Verse 6
O sinless one, the mode of goodness, being purer than the others, is illuminating, and it frees one from all sinful reactions. Those situated in that mode develop knowledge, but they become conditioned by the concept of happiness.
Verse 7
The mode of passion is born of unlimited desires and longings, O son of Kunti, and because of this one is bound to material fruitive activities.
Verse 8
O son of Bharata, the mode of ignorance causes the delusion of all living entities. The result of this mode is madness, indolence and sleep, which bind the conditioned soul.
Verse 9
The mode of goodness leads to happiness, the mode of passion leads to the desire for results from one's actions, and the mode of ignorance leads to confusion and madness.
Verse 10
Sometimes the mode of passion becomes prominent, defeating the mode of goodness, O son of Bharata. And sometimes the mode of goodness defeats passion, and at other times the mode of ignorance defeats goodness and passion. In this way there is always competition for supremacy.
Verse 11
The manifestations of the mode of goodness can be experienced when all the gates of the body are illuminated by knowledge.
Verse 12
O chief of the Bharatas, when there is an increase in the mode of passion, the symptoms of great attachment, uncontrollable desire, hankering, and intense endeavor develop.
Verse 13
O son of Kuru, when there is an increase in the mode of ignorance madness, illusion, inertia and darkness are manifested.
Verse 14
When one dies in the mode of goodness, he attains to the pure higher planets.
Verse 15
When someone dies while influenced by passion, they are reborn among those who are focused on achieving results from their actions. On the other hand, if someone dies under the influence of ignorance, they are reborn in the form of animals.
Verse 16
By acting in the mode of goodness, one becomes purified. Works done in the mode of passion result in distress, and actions performed in the mode of ignorance result in foolishness.
Verse 17
From the mode of goodness, real knowledge develops; from the mode of passion, grief develops; and from the mode of ignorance, foolishness, madness and illusion develop.
Verse 18
Those situated in the mode of goodness gradually go upward to the higher planets; those in the mode of passion live on the earthly planets; and those in the mode of ignorance go down to the hellish worlds.
Verse 19
When you see that there is nothing beyond these modes of nature in all activities and that the Supreme Lord is transcendental to all these modes, then you can know My spiritual nature.
Verse 20
When the embodied being is able to transcend these three modes, he can become free from birth, death, old age and their distresses and can enjoy nectar even in this life.
Verse 21
Arjuna asked: O my dear Lord, how can we recognize someone who has gone beyond these three modes of nature? What is their behavior like? And how do they manage to rise above these modes?
Verse 23
He who, seated like one unconcerned, is not moved by the dualities, and who, knowing that the dualities are active, is self-centered and does not move.
Verse 24
Who is the same in pleasure and pain, who dwells in the Self, to whom a clod of earth, a stone, and gold are all alike, who is the same to the dear and the unfriendly, who is firm, and to whom censure and praise are one and the same.
Verse 25
Who is the same in honor and dishonor, the same to friend and foe, abandoning all undertakings, he is said to have transcended the dualities.
Verse 26
One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any circumstance, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.
Verse 27
And I am the basis of the impersonal Brahman, which is the constitutional position of ultimate happiness, and which is immortal, imperishable and eternal.
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