Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14, Verse 17

Chapter 14 – Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

सत्त्वात्सञ्जायते ज्ञानं रजसो लोभ एव च ।
प्रमादमोहौ तमसो भवतोऽज्ञानमेव च ॥

Transliteration

sattvātsañjāyate jñānaṃ rajaso lobha eva ca .
pramādamohau tamaso bhavato.ajñānameva ca ॥

Meaning

From sattva arises knowledge, and from rajas greed; from tamas arise heedlessness and delusion, and ignorance as well.

Word meanings

सत्त्वात् – from sattva
सञ्जायते – arises
ज्ञानम् – knowledge
रजसः – from rajas
लोभः – greed
एव च – and indeed
प्रमादमोहौ – heedlessness and delusion
तमसः – from tamas
भवतः – arise
अज्ञानम् – ignorance
एव च – and also

Anvaya (word order)

सत्त्वात् ज्ञानं सञ्जायते, रजसः लोभः एव च; तमसः प्रमादमोहौ अज्ञानम् एव च भवतः ।

Explanation

The previous verse said that the fruit of sattvic action is purity, of rajasic action pain, and of tamasic action ignorance. Why should this be so? Here Krishna gives the reason: each guna produces a particular state of mind, and that state determines the fruit of the action.

'From sattva arises knowledge.' When the mind is calm and clear, discernment awakens, and action guided by discernment naturally bears good fruit. 'From rajas, greed.' Action driven by greed can never bring full satisfaction; hence its fruit is pain.

'From tamas arise heedlessness, delusion and ignorance.' Together these three draw a person away from truth. It is telling that three faults are listed for tamas, for it is the greatest obstacle of all.

The verse offers a practical formula. If we want knowledge, we must increase sattva; if we want freedom from greed, we must restrain rajas; and if we want to avoid delusion, we must give up tamas. When the gunas change, our tendencies change, and when our tendencies change, our life changes.

Context

The previous verse gave the fruits of actions according to the gunas; this verse gives the reason, the mental states each guna produces. The next verse summarises the destinies of the three types of people: upward, middle and downward.

Life lesson

If you seek knowledge and clarity, nourish sattva. Greed and confusion do not leave on their own; their roots in rajas and tamas must be recognised and restrained.

Key terms

Jnana: Knowledge, clear understanding — the product of sattva
Lobha: Greed — the product of rajas
Pramada, moha, ajnana: Heedlessness, delusion and ignorance — the products of tamas