पुरुष: प्रकृतिस्थो हि भुङक्ते प्रकृतिजान्गुणान् | कारणं गुणसङ्गोऽस्य सदसद्योनिजन्मसु || 22 || |
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“The Purusha, residing within Prakriti, experiences the qualities born of Prakriti. The association with these qualities is the cause of its birth in different realms, both higher and lower.”
Commentary: This verse elucidates the relationship between Purusha and Prakriti in the context of the Gunās, which are the three fundamental qualities of Prakriti: Sattva (purity, harmony), Rajas (activity, passion), and Tamas (inertia, darkness). These Gunās determine the nature and behavior of individuals and the world.
The verse states that the Purusha, the eternal consciousness, resides within Prakriti and experiences the Gunās. It is through its association with these Gunās that the Purusha undergoes various births or incarnations in different realms. The qualities and tendencies of the Gunās influence the experiences and actions of the Purusha in different lifetimes.
In essence, this verse highlights the interplay between the eternal consciousness (Purusha) and the dynamic forces of nature (Prakriti) in shaping the experiences and destinies of beings based on their association with the Gunās.