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Chapter 14 · Verse 18 · Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga

Bhagavad Gita 14.18

philosophical Karma & Action Jnana & Wisdom Moksha & Liberation

Sanskrit

ऊर्ध्वं गच्छन्ति सत्त्वस्था मध्ये तिष्ठन्ति राजसाः।जघन्यगुणवृत्तिस्था अधो गच्छन्ति तामसाः।।14.18।।

Transliteration

ūrdhvaṁ gachchhanti sattva-sthā madhye tiṣhṭhanti rājasāḥ jaghanya-guṇa-vṛitti-sthā adho gachchhanti tāmasāḥ

Word by Word

ūrdhvam upward
gachchhanti rise
sattva-sthāḥ those situated in the mode of goodness
madhye in the middle
tiṣhṭhanti stay
rājasāḥ those in the mode of passion
jaghanya abominable
guṇa quality
vṛitti-sthāḥ engaged in activities
adhaḥ down
gachchhanti go
tāmasāḥ those in the mode of ignorance
Simplified Perspective

The three gunas are not merely qualities but destinies—they are the invisible currents that carry consciousness upward toward liberation, hold it suspended in the middle realm of striving, or drag it downward into forgetfulness. When you align with sattva through clarity, service, and truth, you naturally rise; when you're caught in rajas, you remain restless in the middle, chasing and losing endlessly; when tamas claims you, you sink into numbness and self-abandonment.

The spiritual path is not about perfection but about recognizing which guna is pulling you right now, and choosing—consciously, moment by moment—to feed the light instead of the darkness.

Listen

Bhagavad Gita 14.18 — BG 14.18

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Sanskrit text from the Bhagavad Gita (public domain). Commentary © Mahakatha.

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