Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14, Verse 6

Chapter 14 – Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

तत्र सत्त्वं निर्मलत्वात्प्रकाशकमनामयम् ।
सुखसङ्गेन बध्नाति ज्ञानसङ्गेन चानघ ॥

Transliteration

tatra sattvaṃ nirmalatvātprakāśakamanāmayam .
sukhasaṅgena badhnāti jñānasaṅgena cānagha ॥

Meaning

Of these, O sinless one, sattva, being pure, is illuminating and free from affliction; yet it binds through attachment to happiness and attachment to knowledge.

Word meanings

तत्र – of these (three gunas)
सत्त्वम् – sattva
निर्मलत्वात् – because of its purity
प्रकाशकम् – illuminating, revealing
अनामयम् – free from affliction, healthy, untroubled
सुखसङ्गेन – by attachment to happiness
बध्नाति – binds
ज्ञानसङ्गेन – by attachment to knowledge
च – and
अनघ – O sinless one

Anvaya (word order)

अनघ, तत्र सत्त्वं निर्मलत्वात् प्रकाशकम् अनामयं (च); (तत्) सुखसङ्गेन ज्ञानसङ्गेन च बध्नाति ।

Explanation

Krishna describes sattva first. He gives it three characteristics: it is nirmala (stainless), prakashaka (illuminating) and anamaya (free from affliction). Just as light passes unobstructed through clean glass, the light of the Self shines clearly through a mind in which sattva predominates. This is why a sattvic person shows discernment, clarity, calm and cheerfulness.

Anamaya means untroubled, free from disturbance or disease. Rajas brings restlessness and tamas brings heaviness, whereas sattva is healthy, light and peaceful. It concerns the well-being of both mind and body.

Yet, and this is the heart of the verse, even this excellent quality becomes a cause of bondage. How? 'Through attachment to happiness and attachment to knowledge.' The sattvic person enjoys peace and joy and begins to cling to them. He grows proud of his learning and understanding: 'I am happy, I am wise.' Shankara points out that happiness and knowledge in this sense are properties of the mind, part of the 'field'. When the Self claims them as its own, a subtle bond is formed.

'Knowledge' here means knowledge as a state of the mind, not the pure consciousness that is the Self's own nature. Pride in scholarship, the pleasure of clever spiritual discussion, and quiet satisfaction at one's own goodness can all halt a seeker just short of the final goal.

By calling Arjuna anagha, 'sinless one', Krishna hints that for a pure-hearted person the greatest danger is not tamasic wrongdoing but sattvic attachment. Sattva is meant to be a ladder, not a home.

Context

Verse 5 stated that all three gunas bind; this verse explains how the first of them, sattva, binds. The next verse describes how rajas binds, and the one after that, tamas.

Life lesson

Peace, joy and understanding are precious, but clinging to them or taking pride in them is a subtle bondage. Live your goodness with humility and treat it as a ladder towards the Self.

Key terms

Nirmalatva: Purity, which lets the light of the Self shine through unobstructed
Prakashaka: Illuminating, giving clarity and understanding
Anamaya: Free from affliction, disturbance or disease
Sukha-sanga, jnana-sanga: Attachment to happiness and to knowledge — the bonds of sattva