In Bhagavad Gita 18.40, Krishna says there is no being on earth or among the gods in heaven that is free from these three gunas born of nature.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
न तदस्ति पृथिव्यां वा
दिवि देवेषु वा पुनः
सत्त्वं प्रकृतिजैर्मुक्तं
यदेभिः स्यात्त्रिभिर्गुणैः ॥ १८-४० ॥
na tadasti pṛthivyāṃ vā
divi deveṣu vā punaḥ
sattvaṃ prakṛtijairmuktaṃ
yadebhiḥ syāttribhirguṇaiḥ
English transliteration na tadasti prithivyaam vaa
divi deveshu vaa punah
sattvam prakritijairmuktam
yadebhih syaattribhirgunaih ॥ 18.40 ॥
Translation / Meaning
There is no being on earth, or again in heaven among the gods, that is free from these three gunas born of nature.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| न na | not |
| तत् tat | that |
| अस्ति asti | is |
| पृथिव्याम् pṛthivyām | on earth |
| वा vā | or |
| दिवि divi | in heaven |
| देवेषु deveṣu | among the gods |
| वा vā | or |
| पुनः punaḥ | again |
| सत्त्वम् sattvam | being |
| प्रकृतिजैः prakṛtijaiḥ | born of nature prakṛti (nature) + jaiḥ (born) |
| मुक्तम् muktam | free |
| यत् yat | which |
| एभिः ebhiḥ | from these |
| स्यात् syāt | may be |
| त्रिभिः tribhiḥ | three |
| गुणैः guṇaiḥ | guṇas |
Word-wise Chanting
- na ta–das–ti pṛ–thiv–yāṃ vā 8 syllables na ta-das-ti pri-thiv-yaam vaa
- di–vi de–ve–ṣu vā pu–naḥ | 8 syllables di-vi de-ve-shu vaa pu-nah
- sat–tvaṃ pra–kṛ–ti–jair–muk–taṃ 8 syllables sat-tvam pra-kri-ti-jair-muk-tam
- ya–de–bhiḥ syāt–tri–bhir–gu–ṇaiḥ || 18-40 8 syllables ya-de-bhih syaat-tri-bhir-gu-naih
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 18 Verse 40
Context
Krishna concludes the analysis of the gunas (18.18–18.40).
Meaning
Every being, human or divine, is under the influence of the three guṇas. No created being is entirely free of them. Only by transcending nature, through knowledge and devotion, can one rise beyond them.
This universal law means no one should feel superior. All beings are shaped by the same forces; all can rise beyond them.
In Practice
Look at others’ faults today with understanding, knowing that all beings are shaped by the gunas.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Liberation and Renunciation). 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.