Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14, Verse 15

Chapter 14 – Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

रजसि प्रलयं गत्वा कर्मसङ्गिषु जायते ।
तथा प्रलीनस्तमसि मूढयोनिषु जायते ॥

Transliteration

rajasi pralayaṃ gatvā karmasaṅgiṣu jāyate .
tathā pralīnastamasi mūḍhayoniṣu jāyate ॥

Meaning

Meeting death in rajas, one is born among those attached to action; and dying in tamas, one is born in the wombs of the deluded.

Word meanings

रजसि – in (the predominance of) rajas
प्रलयम् – death
गत्वा – having met
कर्मसङ्गिषु – among those attached to action
जायते – is born
तथा – likewise
प्रलीनः – dying
तमसि – in (the predominance of) tamas
मूढयोनिषु – in the wombs of the deluded (senseless beings)
जायते – is born

Anvaya (word order)

रजसि प्रलयं गत्वा कर्मसङ्गिषु जायते; तथा तमसि प्रलीनः मूढयोनिषु जायते ।

Explanation

The previous verse described the fruit of dying in sattva; this one describes the fruit of dying in rajas and tamas. If rajas prevails at death, the soul is born karma-sangishu, 'among those attached to action', that is, in the human world. It is born again into surroundings full of desire, ambition and busyness that match its rajasic tendencies.

If tamas prevails, the soul is born mudha-yonishu, in the 'wombs of the deluded': animals, birds, insects, plants and other beings without developed discernment. In such births the intellect is limited and there is practically no opportunity for spiritual practice. This matches the nature of tamas: one who kept discernment veiled throughout life receives a body without discernment.

This is not punishment but natural law. As a tree grows according to its seed, the next birth follows the guna dominant at the final moment. The Lord bears no ill-will towards anyone; each soul shapes its own future through the gunas it cultivates.

The verse also shows the value of human life. Only in a human birth can a soul use discernment to recognise the gunas and rise above them. To waste this opportunity in sloth and indulgence is the greatest loss.

Context

The previous verse described the result of dying in sattva; this verse completes the subject with the results of rajas and tamas. The next verse describes the fruits of actions performed under each of the three gunas.

Life lesson

Our future is shaped by the qualities we cultivate today. A human birth is rare and precious; rather than wasting it in sloth and indulgence, use it for inner growth.

Key terms

Karma-sangi: Those attached to action and its fruits
Mudha-yoni: Births lacking discernment — animals, insects, plants and the like