In Bhagavad Gita 14.5, Krishna says sattva, rajas and tamas, the gunas born of nature, bind the imperishable embodied soul in the body.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति
गुणाः प्रकृतिसम्भवाः
निबध्नन्ति महाबाहो
देहे देहिनमव्ययम् ॥ १४-५ ॥
sattvaṃ rajastama iti
guṇāḥ prakṛtisambhavāḥ
nibadhnanti mahābāho
dehe dehinamavyayam
English transliteration sattvam rajastama iti
gunaah prakritisambhavaah
nibadhnanti mahaabaaho
dehe dehinamavyayam ॥ 14.5 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Sattva, rajas and tamas, these gunas born of nature, bind the imperishable embodied soul in the body, O mighty-armed.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| सत्त्वम् sattvam | sattva, goodness |
| रजः rajaḥ | rajas, passion |
| तमः tamaḥ | tamas, inertia |
| इति iti | thus |
| गुणाः guṇāḥ | the guṇas |
| प्रकृतिसम्भवाः prakṛtisambhavāḥ | born of nature |
| निबध्नन्ति nibadhnanti | bind |
| महाबाहो mahābāho | O mighty-armed |
| देहे dehe | in the body |
| देहिनम् dehinam | the embodied |
| अव्ययम् avyayam | imperishable |
Word-wise Chanting
- sat–tvaṃ ra–jas–ta–ma i–ti 8 syllables sat-tvam ra-jas-ta-ma i-ti
- gu–ṇāḥ pra–kṛ–ti–sam–bha–vāḥ | 8 syllables gu-naah pra-kri-ti-sam-bha-vaah
- ni–badh–nan–ti ma–hā–bā–ho 8 syllables ni-badh-nan-ti ma-haa-baa-ho
- de–he de–hi–na–mav–ya–yam || 14-5 8 syllables de-he de-hi-na-mav-ya-yam
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 5
Context
Krishna introduces the three gunas (14.5–14.9).
Meaning
The three guṇas are qualities or strands of prakṛti. Sattva is clarity, harmony and goodness; rajas is activity, passion and desire; tamas is inertia, dullness and darkness. All three nibadhnanti, bind, the imperishable soul to the body, each in its own way.
Even goodness can bind. This is a striking teaching: the goal is not only to become good but to go beyond all three qualities.
In Practice
Notice today which guna is dominant in you: clarity, restlessness or dullness.
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.