सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणा: प्रकृतिसम्भवा: | निबध्नन्ति महाबाहो देहे देहिनमव्ययम् || 5 || |
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“The qualities of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas, arise from Nature, O mighty-armed Arjuna. They bind the eternal soul to the perishable body.”
Commentary
Lord Krishna explains the three fundamental qualities or gunās—sattva (goodness), rajas (passion), and tamas (ignorance). He states that these qualities originate from nature (Prakriti) and have the power to influence and bind the eternal soul to the transient body.
The gunās are intrinsic aspects of the material world and are responsible for shaping an individual’s thoughts, actions, and behavior. Sattva represents purity, wisdom, and harmony; rajas denotes activity, desires, and restlessness; tamas signifies inertia, delusion, and ignorance. These qualities are present in varying degrees in all beings and influence their perception and engagement with the world.
Lord Krishna explains that these gunās act as bonds that restrict the soul’s freedom and entangle it with the physical body. They create a sense of identification with the material realm, leading to attachments, desires, and the cycle of birth and death.
By understanding the influence of the gunās, one can gain insight into the workings of the mind and the impact they have on spiritual growth. The ultimate goal is to transcend these gunās and attain a state of pure consciousness beyond the grasp of the material world.