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Chapter 7 · Knowledge of the Absolute · 30 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 7 · Knowledge of the Absolute
7.117.13

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 7.12

The guṇas, illusion and divine energy

Īśvara · God

ये चैव सात्त्विका भावा राजसास्तामसाश्च ये ।

मत्त एवेति तान्विद्धि न त्वहं तेषु ते मयि ॥ १२ ॥

ye caiva sāttvikā bhāvā

rājasās tāmasāś ca ye

matta eveti tān viddhi

na tv ahaṁ teṣu te mayi

Translation

Know that all states of being – be they of goodness, passion or ignorance – are manifested by My energy. I am, in one sense, everything, but I am independent. I am not under the modes of material nature, for they, on the contrary, are within Me.

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

Kṛṣṇa Is Beyond Material Nature

  1. 1

    Goodness, passion and ignorance come from Kṛṣṇa’s energy, but He remains independent of them.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that Kṛṣṇa is nirguṇa: the material modes come from Him but do not affect Him.

  3. 3

    Remember that Kṛṣṇa is not controlled by the material nature that comes from Him.

Key points from the purport

Still Krishna is not within modes, but is origin of modes and therefore He is Nirguna

a

How to realize Supreme Lord impersonally (7.8)

Preliminarily perceived by His different energies

He is all pervasive by diverse material and spiritual energies

Analogy: For universal perception of the Lord by His different energies – Sun perceived by sun shine

b

There is no contradiction between personalists and impersonalists (7.8)

Practically speaking impersonal conception and personal conception are simultaneously present in everything and there is no contradiction

Lord Caitanya’s sublime doctrine – Acintya-bheda and abheda tattva

c

Krishna is Nirguna (not affected by the modes) — This is one of the special characteristics of Bhagavan (7.12)

All material activities are conducted under the three modes

These modes emanate from the Supreme Lord and He is not subordinate to them

Analogy: king/law maker is not subject to state laws

Connected verses · 1

Texts 7.11 & 7.12

Text 7.12 provides a summary that Krishna is the origin of all:

Further reading

Knowing Krishna’s Material And Spiritual Energies

Krishna is the source of both matter and spirit

Can be seen in the world when we view all existence as a combination of Krishna’s material and spiritual energies. He is also the active essence of everything

Although Krishna is not under His energies, the three modes, all else in material existence is manifested by combination of goodness, passion and ignorance

Chapter 7, section II: Knowing Krishna’s Material And Spiritual Energies
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yeall which
  2. caand
  3. evacertainly
  4. sāttvikāḥin goodness
  5. bhāvāḥstates of being
  6. rājasāḥin the mode of passion
  7. tāmasāḥin the mode of ignorance
  8. caalso
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 7.12 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

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 7.13The guṇas, illusion and divine energyBG 7.14Crossing beyond māyā
Live this todayKṛṣṇa Is the RootA practice from BG 7.10, 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
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