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Chapter 14 · The Three Modes of Material Nature · 27 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Nature & guṇasChapter 14 · The Three Modes of Material Nature
14.914.11

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 14.10

How goodness, passion and ignorance bind

Prakṛti · Material nature

रजस्तमश्चाभिभूय सत्त्वं भवति भारत ।

रज: सत्त्वं तमश्चैव तम: सत्त्वं रजस्तथा ॥ १० ॥

rajas tamaś cābhibhūya

sattvaṁ bhavati bhārata

rajaḥ sattvaṁ tamaś caiva

tamaḥ sattvaṁ rajas tathā

Translation

Sometimes the mode of goodness becomes prominent, defeating the modes of passion and ignorance, O son of Bharata. Sometimes the mode of passion defeats goodness and ignorance, and at other times ignorance defeats goodness and passion. In this way there is always competition for supremacy.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

The Modes Compete

  1. 1

    Goodness, passion, and ignorance constantly compete, with each sometimes overcoming the other two.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness requires going beyond all three modes to pure goodness, where one can understand God.

  3. 3

    Practice developing goodness to overcome passion and ignorance, while aiming to go beyond goodness too.

Key points from the purport

Modes compete with each other

After describing the effects of the modes, Krishna now tells Arjuna that the modes are not constant in their influence upon the living entity. According to our karma, our work, our association, our choice of food and so on, a particular mode becomes predominant within us.

Here Krishna indicates the awkwardness of the eternal, nonchanging soul’s predicament within this constantly changing world. Srila Prabhupäda therefore writes, “. . . One who is actually intent on advancing in Krishna consciousness has to transcend these three modes.”

a

Modes struggle to dominate each other

If one is actually intent on advancing in Krishna consciousness, one has to transcend the mode

“Vasudeva state” – State of pure goodness where one can understand the science of God

b

How to identify the modes — Depending on the characteristics mentioned in 14.11 – 14.13

Further reading

Recognizing A Mode’s Supremacy

Modes compete with one another for supremacy within an individual

Manifestation from the mode of

Goodness: is knowledge

Passion: is attachment, uncontrollable desire and intense endeavor

Ignorance: is inactivity and madness

Chapter 14, section III: Recognizing A Mode’s Supremacy
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. rajaḥthe mode of passion
  2. tamaḥthe mode of ignorance
  3. caalso
  4. abhibhūyasurpassing
  5. sattvamthe mode of goodness
  6. bhavatibecomes prominent
  7. bhārataO son of Bharata
  8. rajaḥthe mode of passion
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: prakṛti, guṇa.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 14.10 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to nature & guṇas?

Practice

Observe which mode shaped your last decision.

5

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 14 ›
6

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 14.5How goodness, passion and ignorance bindBG 14.6How goodness, passion and ignorance bindBG 7.14Crossing beyond māyā
Live this todayGoodness Can Still BindA practice from BG 14.6, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 4 of 9 · 10 minChapters & storiesGo chapter by chapter, with the Mahābhārata stories that explain what is happening.Back · LearnPrabhupāda's Introduction