pṛithaktvena tu yaj jñānaṁ nānā-bhāvān pṛithag-vidhān
vetti sarveṣhu bhūteṣhu taj jñānaṁ viddhi rājasam
pṛithaktvena — unconnected;
tu — however;
yat — which;
jñānam — knowledge;
nānā-bhāvān — manifold entities;
pṛithak-vidhān — of diversity;
vetti — consider;
sarveṣhu — in all;
bhūteṣhu — living entities;
tat — that;
jñānam — knowledge;
viddhi — know;
rājasam — in the mode of passion
This verse talks about a specific kind of understanding or knowledge, which is described as being in the 'mode of passion.' Let's break this down in simpler terms.
When people see the world, they often notice that there are many different types of living beings, like humans, animals, and insects, each living in their own physical bodies. However, the way we understand our existence and consciousness can vary a lot.
Some people mistakenly think that our body is who we truly are. They believe that when the body dies, that’s the end of everything; they think consciousness simply stops. This viewpoint suggests that we are just our bodies, and that there is no separate, spiritual part of us - like a soul - that continues after death.
In this perspective, people believe that the differences they see in living beings, such as a person versus a dog, come from each being having different bodies and different minds. They don't see any deeper connection between these beings—they see them as completely separate from one another, with no underlying unity.
This kind of thinking is what the verse calls knowledge in the mode of passion. It is characterized by a focus on the material, physical level and a lack of understanding of a more profound spiritual truth. In other words, people who hold this view may think that each body is like a shell that holds the person inside, and when the shell breaks, there’s just nothing left.
Alternatively, some might believe in an all-encompassing force or soul that exists within everyone, but they still see this in a limited way - as just a temporary situation without fully recognizing that individual souls may exist beyond this physical form. Thus, they think consciousness is just a result of the body and does not extend beyond it into something eternal.
This way of thinking, which doesn’t connect material existence with a deeper, permanent soul, is still tied to the idea of separation and differences, and it doesn't recognize a greater unity among all beings. Overall, the verse points out that such views are influenced by the mode of passion, keeping people tied to a limited understanding of life and existence.