In Bhagavad Gita 14.14, Krishna says that if the embodied one dies when sattva predominates, he attains the pure worlds of those who know the highest.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यदा सत्त्वे प्रवृद्धे तु
प्रलयं याति देहभृत्
तदोत्तमविदां लोकान्
अमलान्प्रतिपद्यते ॥ १४-१४ ॥
yadā sattve pravṛddhe tu
pralayaṃ yāti dehabhṛt
tadottamavidāṃ lokān
amalānpratipadyate
English transliteration yadaa sattve pravriddhe tu
pralayam yaati dehabhrit
tadottamavidaam lokaan
amalaanpratipadyate ॥ 14.14 ॥
Translation / Meaning
When the embodied one meets death while sattva predominates, he attains the pure worlds of those who know the highest.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यदा yadā | when |
| सत्त्वे sattve | sattva |
| प्रवृद्धे pravṛddhe | predominates |
| तु tu | indeed |
| प्रलयम् pralayam | death |
| याति yāti | meets |
| देहभृत् dehabhṛt | the embodied one deha (body) + bhṛt (bearer) |
| तदा tadā | then |
| उत्तमविदाम् uttamavidām | of those who know the highest uttama (highest) + vidām (knowers) |
| लोकान् lokān | worlds |
| अमलान् amalān | pure |
| प्रतिपद्यते pratipadyate | attains |
Word-wise Chanting
- ya–dā sat–tve pra–vṛd–dhe tu 8 syllables ya-daa sat-tve pra-vrid-dhe tu
- pra–la–yaṃ yā–ti de–ha–bhṛt | 8 syllables pra-la-yam yaa-ti de-ha-bhrit
- ta–dot–ta–ma–vi–dāṃ lo–kān– 8 syllables ta-dot-ta-ma-vi-daam lo-kaan-
- a–ma–lān–pra–ti–pad–ya–te || 14-14 8 syllables a-ma-laan-pra-ti-pad-ya-te
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 14 Verse 14
Context
Krishna describes the destiny connected with each guna at death (14.14–14.15).
Meaning
The guṇa predominant at the time of death shapes the next life. One who dies in a state of sattva goes to the amala lokas, pure worlds, inhabited by those who know the highest truths.
This connects with 8.6. The state of mind we cultivate throughout life tends to be the state in which we leave it.
In Practice
Cultivate sattva daily, so that it becomes your natural state.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 14: Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga (The Three Gunas). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.