Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya)
भगवद्गीताभाष्यम् (आदि शङ्कराचार्य)
Adi Shankaracharya’s commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, with Sanskrit text and available source translations.
Chapter 14 · 27 shlokas
+ Add ShlokaBhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.1
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.1 · Chapter 14 · Verse 1
।।14.1।। --,परं ज्ञानम् इति व्यवहितेन संबन्धः? भूयः पुनः पूर्वेषु सर्वेष्वध्यायेषु असकृत् उक्तमपि प्रवक्ष्यामि। तच्च परं परवस्तुविषयत्वात्। किं तत् ज्ञानं सर्वेषां ज्ञानानाम् उत्तमम्? उत्तमफलत्वात्। ज्ञानानाम् इति न अमानित्वादीनाम् किं तर्हि यज्ञादिज्ञेयवस्तुविषयाणाम् इति। तानि न मोक्षाय? इदं तु मोक्षाय इति परोत्तमशब्दाभ्यां स्तौति श्रोतृबुद्धिरुच्युत्पादनार्थम्। यत् ज्ञात्वा यत् ज्ञानं ज्ञात्वा प्राप्य मुनयः संन्यासिनः मननशीलाः सर्वे परां सिद्धिं मोक्षाख्याम् इतः अस्मात् देहबन्धनात् ऊर्ध्वं गताः प्राप्ताः।।अस्याश्च सिद्धेः ऐकान्तिकत्वं दर्शयति --,
14.1 The word param should be connected with the remote word jnanam. Pravaksyami, I shall speak; bhuyah, again-even though spoken of more than once in all the preceding chapters; of the param, supreme-it is supreme because it is concerned with the supreme Reality;-which is that?-jnanam, Knowledge; uttamam, the best-since it has the best result; jnananam, of all knowledges-. 'Of all knowledges' does not mean 'of humility' etc. (13.7-11). What then? It means 'among knowledges of all knowable things like sacrifice etc.' They do not lead to Liberation, but this (Knowledge) leads to Liberation. Hence the Lord praises it with the words 'supreme' and 'best', so as to arouse interest in the intellect of the listener. Yat jnatva, by realizing which, by attaining which Knowledge; sarve, all; munayah, the contemplatives, the monks [But not those who espoused monasticsim as a formality in in the fourth stage of life.] gatah, reached, attained; itah, from here-when this bondage of the body had ceased; param, the highest; siddhim, Perfection, called Liberation. And the Lord shows the infallibility of this Perfection:
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.2
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.2 · Chapter 14 · Verse 2
।।14.2।। --,इदं ज्ञानं यथोक्तमुपाश्रित्य? ज्ञानसाधनम् अनुष्ठाय इत्येतत्? मम परमेश्वरस्य साधर्म्यं मत्स्वरूपताम् आगताः प्राप्ताः इत्यर्थः। न तु समानधर्मता साधर्म्यम्? क्षेत्रज्ञेश्वरयोः भेदानभ्युपगमात् गीताशास्त्रे। फलवादश्च अयं स्तुत्यर्थम् उच्यते। सर्गेऽपि सृष्टिकालेऽपि न उपजायन्ते। न उत्पद्यन्ते। प्रलये ब्रह्मणोऽपि विनाशकाले न व्यथन्ति च व्यथां न आपद्यन्ते? न च्यवन्ति इत्यर्थः।।क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञसंयोगः ईदृशः भूतकारणम् इत्याह --,
14.2 Agatah, those who attain; mama sadharmyam, identity with Me the supreme God, unity with My real nature-sadharmyam, however, does not mean similarity of attributes, for, in the scripture Gita, distinction between the Knower of the field and God is not admitted; and this statement of the result is by way of eulogy-; upasritya, by resorting to i.e. by following; idam, this; jnanam, Knowledge as described, i.e., by following the means to Knowledge; na, are not; upajayante, born, produced; api, even; sarge, during creation; nor do they vyathanti, suffer pain, i.e. they do not perish; pralaye, during dissolution, when even Brahma perishes. The Lord says that association of this kind between the field and the Knower of the field is the origin of all beings:
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.3
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.3 · Chapter 14 · Verse 3
।।14.3।। --,मम स्वभूता मदीया माया त्रिगुणात्मिका प्रकृतिः योनिः सर्वभूतानां कारणम्। सर्वकार्येभ्यो महत्त्वात् भरणाच्च स्वविकाराणां महत् ब्रह्म इति योनिरेव विशिष्यते। तस्मिन् महति ब्रह्मणि योनौ गर्भं हिरण्यगर्भस्य जन्मनः बीजं सर्वभूतजन्मकारणं बीजं दधामि निक्षिपामि क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञप्रकृतिद्वयशक्तिमान् ईश्वरः अहम्? अविद्याकामकर्मोपाधिस्वरूपानुविधायिनं क्षेत्रज्ञं क्षेत्रेण संयोजयामि इत्यर्थः। संभवः उत्पत्तिः सर्वभूतानां हिरण्यगर्भोत्पत्तिद्वारेण ततः तस्मात् गर्भाधानात् भवति हे भारत।।
14.3 Mama, My own Maya, i.e. Prakrti consisting of the three alities, which belongs to Me; is the yonih, womb [Here Ast. adds 'karanam, cause' (-off all the creatures).-Tr.] for all the creatures. Since it (Prakrti) is great (mahat) as compared with all its effects, and it is the sustainer (brahma) [Prakrti is brahma since it permeates all of its own products.-A.G.] of all its own transformations, therefore the womb itself is alified as mahat brahma. Tasmin, in that, in the womb which is the great-sustainer; aham, I, God, possessed of the power in the form of the two aspects, viz the field and the Knower of the field; dadhami, place, deposit; garbham, the seed-the seed of the birth of Hiranayagarbha, te seed which is the cause of the birth of all things-; i.e., I bring the field into association with the Knower of the field who conforms to the nature of the limiting adjuncts, viz ignorance, desire and activity. Tatah, from that, from that deposition of the seed; O scion of the Bharata dynasty, bhavati, occurs; sambhavah, the birth, origination; sarva-bhutanam, of all things, following the birth of Hiranyagarbha.
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.4
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.4 · Chapter 14 · Verse 4
।।14.4।। --,देवपितृमनुष्यपशुमृगादिसर्वयोनिषु कौन्तेय? मूर्तयः देहसंस्थानलक्षणाः मूर्छिताङ्गावयवाः मूर्तयः संभवन्ति याः? तासां मूर्तीनां ब्रह्म महत् सर्वावस्थं योनिः कारणम् अहम् ईश्वरः बीजप्रदः गर्भाधानस्य कर्ता पिता।।के गुणाः कथं बध्नन्तीति? उच्यते --,
14.4 O son of Kunti, yah, whatever; murtayah, forms-that have their parts and limbs integrated, which is characteristic of the formation of bodies; sambhavanti, are born; sarva-yonisu, from all wombs-from the wombs of gods, manes, humans, cattle, beasts, etc.; tasam, of them, of those forms; mahat brahma, the great-sustainer, which exists as all the (various) forms; is the yonih, womb, source. Aham, I, God; am the pita, father; bija-pradah, who desposits the seed, the agent of impregnation. (Now) is being stated which are the alities and how they bind:
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.5
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.5 · Chapter 14 · Verse 5
।।14.5।। -- सत्त्वं रजः तमः इति एवंनामानः। गुणाः इति पारिभाषिकः शब्दः? न रूपादिवत् द्रव्याश्रिताः गुणाः। न च गुणगुणिनोः अन्यत्वमत्र विवक्षितम्। तस्मात् गुणा इव नित्यपरतन्त्राः क्षेत्रज्ञं प्रति अविद्यात्मकत्वात् क्षेत्रज्ञं निबध्नन्तीव। तम् आस्पदीकृत्य आत्मानं प्रतिलभन्ते इति निबध्नन्ति इति उच्यते। ते च प्रकृतिसंभवाः भगवन्मायासंभवाः निबध्नन्ति इव हे महाबाहो? महान्तौ समर्थतरौ आजानुप्रलम्बौ बाहू यस्य सः महाबाहुः? हे महाबाहो देहे शरीरे देहिनं देहवन्तम् अव्ययम्? अव्ययत्वं च उक्तम् अनादित्वात् (गीता 13.31) इत्यादिश्लोकेन। ननु देही न लिप्यते इत्युक्तम्। तत कथम् इह निबध्नन्ति इति अन्यथा उच्यते परिहृतम् अस्माभिः इवशब्देन निबध्नन्ति इव इति।।तत्र सत्त्वादीनां सत्त्वस्यैव तावत् लक्षणम् उच्यते --,
14.5 O mighty-armed one-who are possessed of hands which are great and mighty, and extend upto the knees, gunah, the alities are named sattva, rajas and tamas. And they, prakrti-sambhavah, born of Nature, born of Maya which belongs to God; nibadhnanti, bind, as it were; the avyayam, immutable-the immutability has been spoken of in the verse, 'Being without beginning৷৷.,' etc. (13.31); dehinam, embodied being; dehe, to the body. The word guna is a technical term, and is not a ality like colour etc. which inhere in some substance. Nor is it meant here that ality and substance are different. Therefore they are ever dependent on the Knower of the field, just as alities are dependent (on some substance). Being of the nature of ignorance, they bind the Knower of the field, as it were. They come into being, making That (Knower) their sustainer. In this sense it is said that they bind. Objection; Was it not said that the embodied one does not become defiled (see 13.31-2)? So, why as it contrarily said here that 'they bind'? Reply: We have rutted this objection by using the word iva (as it were) in 'they bind, as it were'.
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.6
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.6 · Chapter 14 · Verse 6
।।14.6।। --,निर्मलत्वात् स्फटिकमणिरिव प्रकाशकम् अनामयं निरुपद्रवं सत्त्वं तन्निबध्नाति। कथम् सुखसङ्गेन सुखी अहम् इति विषयभूतस्य सुखस्य विषयिणि आत्मनि संश्लेषापादनं मृषैव सुखे सञ्जनम् इति। सैषा अविद्या। न हि विषयधर्मः विषयिणः भवति। इच्छादि च धृत्यन्तं क्षेत्रस्यैव विषयस्य धर्मः इति उक्तं भगवता। अतः अविद्ययैव स्वकीयधर्मभूतया विषयविषय्यविवेकलक्षणया अस्वात्मभूते सुखे सञ्जयति इव? आसक्तमिव करोति? असङ्गं सक्तमिव करोति? असुखिनं सुखिनमिव। तथा ज्ञानसङ्गेन च? ज्ञानमिति सुखसाहचर्यात् क्षेत्रस्यैव विषयस्य अन्तःकरणस्य धर्मः? न आत्मनः आत्मधर्मत्वे सङ्गानुपपत्तेः? बन्धानुपपत्तेश्च। सुखे इव ज्ञानादौ सङ्गः मन्तव्यः। हे अनघ अव्यसन।।
14.6 Tatra, among them, among sattva etc.;-the characteristics of sattva itself is being stated first-sattva, nirmalatvat, being pure like a crystal stone;is prakasakam, an illuminator; and anamayam, harmless. Anagha, O sinless one; badhnati, it binds. How? Sukhasangena, through attachment to happiness. Bringing about the association of happiness, which is the object, with the Self, which is the subject, in the form of the idea, 'I am happy', is certainly an unreal contact with happiness. This as such is nescience, for the ality of an object cannot belong to a subject. And it has been said by the Lord that all the alities, from 'desire' to 'fortitude' (see 13.6), are, indeed, of the field, which is the object. Therefore, it is certainly through nescience, which is an attribute [In reality, though nescience has no connection with the Self, yet, since there is none other with which it can become associated and since it has no independence, therefore the Commentator imagines it as an attribute of the Self.] of the Self and has the characteristics of non-discrimination between object and subject, that sattva apparently brings about the association with happiness, which is not the Self. It makes (the Self) attached, as it were; [Here Ast. adds 'asangam saktam iva, (makes) the Unattached attached, as it were'.-Tr.] makes one not possessed of happiness as though possessed of it! Similarly, it binds also jnana-sangena, through attachment to knowledge. [Jnana, derived in the sense of 'that through which one knows,' means an instrument of knowledge, and not Consciousness. (S.: Knowledge arising from the study of the import of various scriptures; or, jnanam, means the scriptures, through which the supreme God is known and which leads to devotional practices, but not to steadfastness in (the absolute) Brahman.] Because of its concomitance with happiness, knowledge here is an attribute of the internal organ, the field, but not of the Self. Were it an attribute [If knowledge were a natural attribute of the Self, then there can be no estion of the latter again becoming bound through association with the former.] of the Self, there could be no contact (between it and the Self), and 'bondage' would become illogical. Association with knowledge etc. should be understood in the same sense as with happiness.
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.7
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.7 · Chapter 14 · Verse 7
।।14.7।। --,रजः रागात्मकं रञ्जनात् रागः गैरिकादिवद्रागात्मकं विद्धि जानीहि। तृष्णासङ्गसमुद्भवं तृष्णा अप्राप्ताभिलाषः? आसङ्गः प्राप्ते विषये मनसः प्रीतिलक्षणः संश्लेषः? तृष्णासङ्गयोः समुद्भवं तृष्णासङ्गसमुद्भवम्। तन्निबध्नाति तत् रजः निबध्नाति कौन्तेय कर्मसङ्गेन? दृष्टादृष्टार्थेषु कर्मसु सञ्जनं तत्परता कर्मसङ्गः? तेन निबध्नाति रजः देहिनम्।।
14.7 Viddhi, know; rajas to be ragatmakam, of the nature of passion (-raga is derived in the sense of that which colours-), having the property of colouring, like the ochre pigment etc.; trsna-asanga-samud-bhavam, born of hankering and attachment-hankering is the longing for things not acired; attachment is the clining-of the nature of fondness-of the mind to things in possession. O son of Kunti, tat, that, that rajas; nibadhnati, binds; dehinam, the embodied one; karma-sangena, through attachment to actions. Deep involvement in actions related to seen or unseen objects is karmasangah. Rajas binds through that.
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.8
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.8 · Chapter 14 · Verse 8
।।14.8।। --,तमः तृतीयः गुणः अज्ञानजम् अज्ञानात् जातम् अज्ञानजं विद्धि मोहनं मोहकरम् अविवेककरं सर्वदेहिनां सर्वेषां देहवताम्। प्रमादालस्यनिद्राभिः प्रमादश्च आलस्यं च निद्रा च प्रमादालस्यनिद्राः ताभिः प्रमादालस्यनिद्राभिः तत् तमः निबध्नाति भारत।।पुनः गुणानां व्यापारः संक्षेपतः उच्यते --,
14.8 Viddhi, know; tamas, the third alitty; mahanam, which deludes, which is a cause of indiscrimination; sarva-dehinam, of all embodied beings; to be ajnanajam, born of ignorance. O scion of the Bharata dynasty, tat, that tamas; nibadhnati, binds; pramada-alasya-nidrabhih, through inadvertence, laziness and sleep. The activities of the alities are again being briefly stated:
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.9
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.9 · Chapter 14 · Verse 9
।।14.9।। --,सत्त्वं सुखे सञ्जयति संश्लेषयति? रजः कर्मणि हे भारत सञ्जयति इति अनुवर्तते। ज्ञानं सत्त्वकृतं विवेकम् आवृत्य आच्छाद्य तु तमः स्वेन आवरणात्मना प्रमादे सञ्जयति उत प्रमादः नाम प्राप्तकर्तव्याकरणम्।।उक्तं कार्यं कदा कुर्वन्ति गुणा इति उच्यते --,
14.9 O scion of the Bharata dynasty, sattva, sanjayati, attaches one; sukhe, to happiness; rajas (-attaches is understood-) karmani, to action; tu, while; tamas, avrtya, covering up, veiling; jnanam, knowledge, the discrimination produced by sattva; sanjayati, leads pramade, to inadvertence; uta, also. Pramada means non-performance of a duty on hand. When do the alities produce the effects stated above? That is being answered:
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.10
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.10 · Chapter 14 · Verse 10
।।14.10।। --,रजः तमश्च उभावपि अभिभूय सत्त्वं भवति उद्भवति वर्धते यदा? तदा लब्धात्मकं सत्त्वं स्वकार्यं ज्ञानसुखादि आरभते हे भारत। तथा रजोगुणः सत्त्वं तमश्च एव उभावपि अभिभूय वर्धते यदा? तदा कर्म तृष्णादि स्वकार्यम् आरभते। तम आख्यो गुणः सत्त्वं रजश्च उभावपि अभिभूय तथैव वर्धते यदा? तदा ज्ञानावरणादि स्वकार्यम् आरभते।।यदा यो गुणः उद्भूतः भवति? तदा तस्य किं लिङ्गमिति उच्यते --,
14.10 O scion of the Bharata dynasty, sattva bhavati, increases, comes into being; abhibhuya, by subduing both rajas and tamas. When sattva increases, then, coming to its own, it produces its own effects-knowledge, happiness, etc. Similarly, when the ality of rajas increases by overpowering both sattva and tamas, then it produces its own effects-activity and hankering. When the ality called tamas increases by similarly dominating over sattva and rajas, it then produces its own effects-obscuring of knowledge, etc. When any ality preponderates, then what is its indication? This is being answered:
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.11
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.11 · Chapter 14 · Verse 11
।।14.11।। --,सर्वद्वारेषु? आत्मनः उपलब्धिद्वाराणि श्रोत्रादीनि सर्वाणि करणानि? तेषु सर्वद्वारेषु अन्तःकरणस्य बुद्धेः वृत्तिः प्रकाशः देहे अस्मिन् उपजायते। तदेव ज्ञानम्। यदा एवं प्रकाशो ज्ञानाख्यः उपजायते? तदा ज्ञानप्रकाशेन लिङ्गेन विद्यात् विवृद्धम् उद्भूतं सत्त्वम् इति उत अपि।।रजसः उद्भूतस्य इदं चिह्नम् --,
14.11 Yada, when; prakasah, the illumination-prakasa, illumination, is a function of the internal organ, intelligence; that itself is jnanam, knowledge; when this illumination called knowledge upajayate, radiates; asmin, in this; dehe, body; sarva-dvaresu, through all the doors-all the sense organs, (viz) ear etc., are the Self's doors of perception; through all those doors; tada, then; through this indication, viz the illumination that is knowledge, vidyat, one should know; iti, that; sattva has vivrddham, increased; uta, greatly [See A.G.-Tr.]. This is the characteristics of rajas when it has become prominent:
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.12
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.12 · Chapter 14 · Verse 12
।।14.12।। --,लोभः परद्रव्यादित्सा? प्रवृत्तिः प्रवर्तनं सामान्यचेष्टा? आरम्भः कस्य कर्मणाम्। अशमः अनुपशमः? हर्षरागादिप्रवृत्तिः स्पृहा सर्वसामान्यवस्तुविषया तृष्णा -- रजसि गुणे विवृद्धे एतानि लिङ्गानि जायन्ते हे भरतर्षभ।।
14.12 O best of the Bharata dynasty, when the ality of rajas vivrddhe, becomes predominant; etani, these indications; jayante, come into being; lobhah, avarice, the desire to appropriate other's possessions; pravrtih, movement in general; arambhah, undertaking;-of what?-karmanam, of actions; asamah, unrest, lack of tranillity-(i.e.) manifestation of joy, attachment, etc.; and sprha, hankering, desire in general for all things.
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.13
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.13 · Chapter 14 · Verse 13
।।14.13।। --,अप्रकाशः अविवेकः? अत्यन्तम् अप्रवृत्तिश्च प्रवृत्त्यभावः तत्कार्यं प्रमादो मोह एव च अविवेकः मूढता इत्यर्थः। तमसि गुणे विवृद्धे एतानि लिङ्गानि जायन्ते हे कुरुनन्दन।।मरणद्वारेणापि यत् फलं प्राप्यते? तदपि सङ्गरागहेतुकं सर्वं गौणमेव इति दर्शयन् आह --,
14.13 Kuru-nandana, O descendant of the Kuru dynasty; when the ality of tamas vivrddhe, predominates; etani, these indications; eva, surely; jayante, come into being; extreme aprakasah, non-discrimination; and apravrttih, inactivity; its [i.e. of non-discrimination.] effects, pramadah, in-advertence; and mohah, delusion, i.e. stupidity, which is a from of non-discrimination. Whatever result is achieved even after death, that is also owing to attachment and desire; every-thing is certainly caused by the alities. By way of showing this the Lord says:
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.14
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.14 · Chapter 14 · Verse 14
।।14.14।। --,यदा सत्त्वे प्रवृद्धे उद्भूते तु प्रलयं मरणं याति प्रतिपद्यते देहभृत् आत्मा? तदा उत्तमविदां महदादितत्त्वविदाम् इत्येतत्? लोकान् अमलान् मलरहितान् प्रतिपद्यते प्राप्नोति इत्येतत्।।
14.14 Yada, when; deha-bhrt, an embodied one, the soul; yati, undergoes; pralayam, death; sattve pravrddhe, while sattva is predominant; tu, exclusively; [Tu is used to exclude rajas and tamas.-S.] tada, then; pratipadyate, he attains, i.e. gains; the amalan, tainless, stainless; lokan, worlds; [The worlds of Brahma, etc., which are free from the impurity of predominance either of rajas or tamas.] uttamavidam, of those who know the highest, i.e. of those who have known the principles-mahat and the rest.
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.15
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.15 · Chapter 14 · Verse 15
।।14.15।। --,रजसि गुणे विवृद्धे प्रलयं मरणं गत्वा प्राप्य कर्मसङ्गिषु कर्मासक्तियुक्तेषु मनुष्येषु जायते। तथा तद्वदेव प्रलीनः मृतः तमसि विवृद्धे मूढयोनिषु पश्वादियोनिषु जायते।।अतीतश्लोकार्थस्यैव संक्षेपः उच्यते --,
14.15 Pralayam gatva, when one does; rajasi, while the ality of rajas predominates; jayate, he is born; karma-sangisu, among people attached to activity, among human beings having attachment to work. Tatha, similarly, in that very way; pralinah, when one dies; tamasi, while tamas predominates; jayate, he takes birth; mudha-yonisu, among the stupid species, such as animals etc. A summary of the idea of the preceding (three) verses is being stated:
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.16
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.16 · Chapter 14 · Verse 16
।।14.16।। --,कर्मणः सुकृतस्य सात्त्विकस्य इत्यर्थः? आहुः शिष्टाः सात्त्विकम् एव निर्मलं फलम् इति। रजसस्तु फलं दुःखं राजसस्य कर्मणः इत्यर्थः? कर्माधिकारात् फलम् अपि दुःखम् एव? कारणानुरूप्यात् राजसमेव। तथा अज्ञानं तमसः तामसस्य कर्मणः अधर्मस्य पूर्ववत्।।किं च गुणेभ्यो भवति --,
14.16 Ahuh, they, the wise persons, say; that phalam, the result; sukrtasya, of good; karmanah, work, i.e. acts having the sattva ality; is verily nirmalam, pure; and is sattvikam, born of sattva. Tu, but; phalam, the result; rajasah, of rajas, i.e. of acts that have the alitty of rajas-for the topic relates to actions; is duhkham, sorrow. In accordance with its cause, the result too is indeed sorrow, a product of rajas. So also ajnanam, ignorance; is, as before, (the result) tamasah, of tamas, of unrighteous acts that have the ality of tamas. What else results from the alities?
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.17
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.17 · Chapter 14 · Verse 17
।।14.17।। --,सत्त्वात् लब्धात्मकात् संजायते समुत्पद्यते ज्ञानम्? रजसो लोभ एव च? प्रमादमोहौ च उभौ तमसो भवतः? अज्ञानमेव च भवति।।किं च --,
14.17 Sattvat, from sattva, when it predominates; sanjayate, is born; jnanam, knowledge; and rajasah, from rajas; is verily born lobhah, avarice. Tamasah, from tamas; bhavatah, are born; both pramada-mohau, in-advertence and delusion; as also ajnanam, ignorance [Absence of discrimination.]; eva ca, to be sure. Further,
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.18
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.18 · Chapter 14 · Verse 18
।।14.18।। --,ऊर्ध्वं गच्छन्ति देवलोकादिषु उत्पद्यन्ते सत्त्वस्थाः सत्त्वगुणवृत्तस्थाः। मध्ये तिष्ठन्ति मनुष्येषु उत्पद्यन्ते राजसाः। जघन्यगुणवृत्तस्थाः जघन्यश्च असौ गुणश्च जघन्यगुणः तमः? तस्य वृत्तं निद्रालस्यादि? तस्मिन् स्थिताः जघन्यगुणवृत्तस्थाः मूढाः अधः गच्छन्ति पश्वादिषु उत्पद्यन्ते तामसाः।। पुरुषस्य प्रकृतिस्थत्वरूपेण मिथ्याज्ञानेन युक्तस्य भोग्येषु गुणेषु सुखदुःखमोहात्मकेषु सुखी दुःखी मूढः अहम् अस्मि इत्येवंरूपः यः सङ्गः तत्कारणं पुरुषस्य सदसद्योनिजन्मप्राप्तिलक्षणस्य संसारस्य इति समासेन पूर्वाध्याये यत् उक्तम्? तत् इह सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणाः प्रकृतिसंभवाः (गीता 14।5) इति आरभ्य गुणस्वरूपम्? गुणवृत्तम्? स्ववृत्तेन च गुणानां बन्धकत्वम्? गुणवृत्तनिबद्धस्य च पुरुषस्य या गतिः? इत्येतत् सर्वं मिथ्याज्ञानमूलं बन्धकारणं विस्तरेण उक्त्वा? अधुना सम्यग्दर्शनान्मोक्षो वक्तव्यः इत्यत आह भगवान् --,
14.18 Sattvasthah, people who conform to sattva, to the actions of sattva ality; gacchanti, go, are born; undhavam, higher up, in the worlds of gods and others. Rajasah, those who conform to rajas; [Those who are endowed with sense-knowledge and actions conseent on the preponderance of rajas.] tisthanti, stay, are born; madhye, in the middle, among human beings. Tamasah, those who conform to tamas, jaghanya-gunavrttasthah [A variant reading is vrttisthah.-Tr.], who conform to actions of the lowest ality of tamas, those who are attached to its actions-sleep, laziness, etc.-, the foolish; gacchanti, go; adhah, down, (i.e.) they are born among cattle etc. The association, owing to the false ignorance in the form of 'being seated in Nature', that an individual soul has with the gunas-in the form of happiness, sorrow and delusion, and which are matters of experience in such ways as, 'I am happy,' 'I am sorrowful,' 'I am ignorant,'-that (association) is the cause of the individual soul's mundane existence characterized by coming to have births in good and bad species. This was stated briefly in the earlier chapter. Elaborating that here in the text beginning with, 'the alities, viz sattva, rajas and tamas, born of Nature' (5), the Lord has said that the nature of the alities, the conduct conforming to the alities, and the power to bind that the alities have through actions conforming to them, and also the course of a person under the bondage, of behaviour conforming to the alities,-all this is false knowledge; it has ignorance as its root and is the cause of bondage. Now, it is necessary to state that Liberation follows from right knowledge. Hence the Lord says:
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.19
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.19 · Chapter 14 · Verse 19
।।14.19।। --,न अन्यं कार्यकरणविषयाकारपरिणतेभ्यः गुणेभ्यः कर्तारम् अन्यं यदा द्रष्टा विद्वान् सन् न अनुपश्यति? गुणा एव सर्वावस्थाः सर्वकर्मणां कर्तारः इत्येवं पश्यति? गुणेभ्यश्च परं गुणव्यापारसाक्षिभूतं वेत्ति? मद्भावं मम भावं सः द्रष्टा अधिगच्छति।।कथम् अधिगच्छति इति? उच्यते --,
14.19 Yada, when; drasta, the witness, after becoming illumined; anupasyati, sees; na anyam, none other; gunhyah, than the alities that have transformed into the shape of body, orgnas and objects; kartaram,as the agent-(i.e.) he sees thus that the alities themselves, in all their modes, are the agents of all activities; ca, and; vetti, knows; that which, standing as the witness of the activities of the alities, is param, superior; gunhyah, to the alities; sah, he, the witness; adhigacchati, attains; madbhavam, My nature. How does he attain? That is being stated:
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.20
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.20 · Chapter 14 · Verse 20
।।14.20।। --,गुणान् एतान् यथोक्तान् अतीत्य जीवन्नेव अतिक्रम्य मायोपाधिभूतान् त्रीन् देही देहसमुद्भवान् देहोत्पत्तिबीजभूतान् जन्ममृत्युजरादुःखैः जन्म च मृत्युश्च जरा च दुःखानि च जन्ममृत्युजरादुःखानि तैः जीवन्नेव विमुक्तः सन् विद्वान् अमृतम् अश्नुते? एवं मद्भावम् अधिगच्छति इत्यर्थः।।जीवन्नेव गुणान् अतीत्य अमृतम् अश्नुते इति प्रश्नबीजं प्रतिलभ्य? अर्जुन उवाच --,अर्जुन उवाच --,
14.20 Atitya, having transcended, having gone beyond-even while living; etan, these; trin, three; gunan, alities as have been described, which constitute the limiting adjunct Maya; and dehasamudbhavan, which are the origin of the body, which are the seed of the birth of the body; dehi, the embodied one, the enlightened one; vimuktah, becoming free-even in this life; janma-mrtyu-jara-duhkhaih, from birth death, old age and sorrow; asnute, experiences; [Some translate this as 'attains'.-Tr.] amrtam, Immortality. In this way he attains My nature. This is the idea. Getting a clue to a estion from the statement that one experiences Immortality, even in this life, by going beyond the alities-
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.21
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.21 · Chapter 14 · Verse 21
।।14.21।। --,कैः लिङ्गैः चिह्नैः त्रीन् एतान् व्याख्यातान् गुणान् अतीतः अतिक्रान्तः भवति प्रभो? किमाचारः कः अस्य आचारः इति किमाचारः कथं केन च प्रकारेण एतान् त्रीन् गुणान् अतिवर्तते अतीत्य वर्तते।।गुणातीतस्य लक्षणं गुणातीतत्वोपायं च अर्जुनेन पृष्टः अस्मिन् श्लोके प्रश्नद्वयार्थं प्रतिवचनं श्रीभगवान् उवाच। यत् तावत् कैः लिङ्गैः युक्तो गुणातीतो भवति इति? तत् शृणु --,श्रीभगवानुवाच --,
14.21 Prabho, O Lord; kaih, by what; lingaih, signs; bhavati, is one (known); atitah, who has gone beyond; etan, these; trin, three; gunan, alities that have been explained? Kim, what; is his acarah, behaviour; ca, and; katham, how, in what way; ativartate, does he transcend; [Ast. adds here, 'atitya vartate, (in what way) does he exist after transcending (the three alities)?'-Tr.] etan, these; trin, three; gunan, alities? In this verse the signs of one who has gone beyond the alities, and the means of transcending them have been asked by Arjuna. By way of replying to the two estions, the Lord said: 'As for the estion, 'With what sings does one who has gone beyond the alities become endowed with?", listen to them:'
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.22
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.22 · Chapter 14 · Verse 22
।।14.22।। --,प्रकाशं च सत्त्वकार्यं प्रवृत्तिं च रजःकार्यं मोहमेव च तमःकार्यम् इत्येतानि न द्वेष्टि संप्रवृत्तानि सम्यग्विषयभावेन उद्भूतानि -- मम तामसः प्रत्ययो जातः? तेन अहं मूढः तथा राजसी प्रवृत्तिः मम उत्पन्ना दुःखात्मिका? तेन अहं रजसा प्रवर्तितः प्रचलितः स्वरूपात् कष्टं मम वर्तते यः अयं मत्स्वरूपावस्थानात् भ्रंशः तथा सात्त्विको गुणः प्रकाशात्मा मां विवेकित्वम् आपादयन् सुखे च सञ्जयन् बध्नाति इति तानि द्वेष्टि असम्यग्दर्शित्वेन। तत् एवं गुणातीतो न द्वेष्टि संप्रवृत्तानि। यथा च सात्त्विकादिपुरुषः सत्त्वादिकार्याणि आत्मानं प्रति प्रकाश्य निवृत्तानि काङ्क्षति? न तथा गुणातीतो निवृत्तानि काङ्क्षति इत्यर्थः। एतत् न परप्रत्यक्षं लिङ्गम्। किं तर्हि स्वात्मप्रत्यक्षत्वात् आत्मार्थमेव एतत् लक्षणम्। न हि स्वात्मविषयं द्वेषमाकाङ्क्षां वा परः पश्यति।।अथ इदानीम् गुणातीतः किमाचारः इति प्रश्नस्य प्रतिवचनम् आह --,
14.22 Na dvesti, he neither dislikes these; prakasam, illumination (knowledge), an effect of sattva; pravrttim, activity, an effect of rajas; and moham, delusion, an effect of tamas; sampravrttani, when they appear, when they fully emerge in the form of objects (of experience)-. 'In me has arisen a perception which is a result of tamas; thery I have become deluded'; so also, 'In me has risen (the inclination to) action which is painful and is born of rajas. By that rajas I have been actuated, carried away from my own nature. This is a matter of sorrow to me that there has been a deviation from my own nature'; similarly, 'The ality of sattva, in the form of illumination that is knowledge, binds me by attributing discrimination to me and making me attached to happiness'-(by thinking) in these ways one dislikes them because of his being not fully enlightened. The person who has transcended the alities does not dislike them in this manner. Unlike a person having sattva etc., who longs for the effects of sattva etc. which withdraw themselves after becoming manifest to him, the person who has gone beyond the alities na kanksati, does not long for them in that way; nivrttani, when they disappear. This is the idea. This is not an indication that can be perceived by others. What then? Since this characteristic is perceivable to oneself, it is merely subjective. For dislike or longing, which is a subjective experience of a person, is not seen by another. Now, then, the Lord gives the reply to the estion, 'What is the behaviour of one who has gone beyond the alities?':
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.23
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.23 · Chapter 14 · Verse 23
।।14.23।। --,उदासीनवत् यथा उदासीनः न कस्यचित् पक्षं भजते? तथा अयं गुणातीतत्वोपायमार्गेऽवस्थितः आसीनः आत्मवित् गुणैः यः संन्यासी न विचाल्यते विवेकदर्शनावस्थातः। तदेतत् स्फुटीकरोति -- गुणाः कार्यकरणविषयाकारपरिणताः अन्योन्यस्मिन् वर्तन्ते इति यः अवतिष्ठति। छन्दोभङ्गभयात् परस्मैपदप्रयोगः। योऽनुतिष्ठतीति वा पाठान्तरम्। न इङ्गते न चलति? स्वरूपावस्थ एव भवति इत्यर्थः।।किं च --,
14.23 He, the Self-realized monk, yah, who; asinah, sitting; udasinavat, like one indifferent-as an indifferent man sides with nobody, similarly, this one, set on the path leading to the transcendence of the alities; na, is not; vicalyate, distracted from the state of Knowledge arising out of discrimination; gunaih, by the alities. This point is being clarified as such: Yah, he who; thinking iti, that; gunah, the alities, which have trasnformed into body, organs and objects; vartante, act on one another; avatisthati, remains firm-avatisthati (instead of avatisthate) is used in the Parasmaipada to avoid a break in the metre, or there is different reading, 'yah anutisthati, who acts'-;[His apparent activity consists in the mere continuance of actions which have been subjectively sublated through enlightenment.] and an, does not; ingate, move; i.e., becomes eva, surely settled in his own nature-.
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.24
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.24 · Chapter 14 · Verse 24
।।14.24।। --,समदुःखसुखः समे दुःखसुखे यस्य सः समदुःखसुखः? स्वस्थः स्वे आत्मनि स्थितः प्रसन्नः? समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः लोष्टं च अश्मा च काञ्चनं च लोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनानि समानि यस्य सः समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः? तुल्यप्रियाप्रियः प्रियं च अप्रियं च प्रियाप्रिये तुल्ये समे यस्य सोऽयं तुल्यप्रियाप्रियः? धीरः धीमान्? तुल्यनिन्दात्मसंस्तुतिः निन्दा च आत्मसंस्तुतिश्च निन्दात्मसंस्तुती? तुल्ये निन्दात्मसंस्तुती यस्य यतेः सः तुल्यनिन्दात्मसंस्तुतिः।।किं च --,
14.24 Moreover, sama-duhkha-sukhah, he to whom sorrow and happiness are alike;svasthah, who is established in his own Self, tranil; sama-losta-asma-kancanah, to whom a lump of earth, iron and gold are the same; tulya-priya-apriyah, to whom the agreeable and the disagreeable are the same; dhirah, who is wise; tulya-ninda-atma-samstutih, to whom, to which monk, censure and his own praise are the same-.
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.25
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.25 · Chapter 14 · Verse 25
।।14.25।। --,मानापमानयोः तुल्यः समः निर्विकारः तुल्यः मित्रारिपक्षयोः? यद्यपि उदासीना भवन्ति केचित् स्वाभिप्रायेण? तथापि पराभिप्रायेण मित्रारिपक्षयोरिव भवन्ति इति तुल्यो मित्रारिपक्षयोः इत्याह। सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी? दृष्टादृष्टार्थानि कर्माणि आरभ्यन्ते इति आरम्भाः? सर्वान् आरम्भान् परित्यक्तुं शीलम् अस्य इति सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी? देहधारणमात्रनिमित्तव्यतिरेकेण सर्वकर्मपरित्यागी इत्यर्थः। गुणातीतः सः उच्यते।।उदासीनवत् (गीता 14।23) इत्यादि गुणातीतः स उच्यते (गीता 14।25) इत्येतदन्तम् उक्तं यावत् यत्नसाध्यं तावत् संन्यासिनः अनुष्ठेयं गुणातीतत्वसाधनं मुमुक्षोः स्थिरीभूतं तु स्वसंवेद्यं सत् गुणातीतस्य यतेः लक्षणं भवति इति। अधुना कथं च त्रीन्गुणानतिवर्तते इत्यस्य प्रश्नस्य प्रतिवचनम् आह --,
14.25 Further, tulyah, he who is the same, unperturbed; mana-apamanayoh, under honour and dishonour; tulyah, who is eally disposed; mitra-ari-paksayoh, both towards the side of the friend and of the foe-although from their own standpoint some may be unattached, still, in others' view they may appear to be siding either with friends or foes; hence it is said, 'eally disposed both towards the side of the friend and of the foe'; sarva-arambha-parityagi, who has renounced all enterprise (-those which are undertaken are arambhah, actions intended for seen or unseen results-), i.e. who is apt to give up all undertakings, who has given up all actions other than those needed merely for the maintenance of the body; sah, he; ucyate, is said to have; gunatitah, gone beyond the alities. The disciplines leading to the state of transcendence of the alities, which have been stated (in the verses) beginning from 'he who, sitting like one indifferent,' and ending with 'he is said to have gone beyond the alities,' have to be practised by a monk, a seeker of Liberation, so long as they are to be achieved through effort. But when they become firmly ingrained, they become the indications, perceivable to himself, of a monk who has transcended the alities. Now the Lord gives the reply to the estion, 'And how does he transcend the alties?'
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.26
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.26 · Chapter 14 · Verse 26
।।14.26।। --,मां च ईश्वरं नारायणं सर्वभूतहृदयाश्रितं यो यतिः कर्मी वा अव्यभिचारेण न कदाचित् यो व्यभिचरति भक्तियोगेन भजनं भक्तिः सैव योगः तेन भक्तियोगेन सेवते? सः गुणान् समतीत्य एतान् यथोक्तान् ब्रह्मभूयाय? भवनं भूयः? ब्रह्मभूयाय ब्रह्मभवनाय मोक्षाय कल्पते समर्थो भवति इत्यर्थः।।कुत एतदिति उच्यते --,
14.26 And he-be he a monk or a man of action (rites and duties)-, yah, who; sevate, serves; mam, Me, God, Narayana residing in the hearts of all beings; avyabhicarena, through the unswerving-that which never wavers-; bhakti-yogena, Yoga of Devotion-devotion [Bhakti (devotion), supreme Love, through which one becomes united (with God) is yoga.] itself being the Yoga-; sah, he; samatitya, having transcended; etan, these; gunan, alities as described; kalpate, alifies, i.e. becomes fit; brahma-bhuyaya,-bhuyah is the same as bhavanam-, for becoming Brahman, for Liberation. How this is so is being stated:
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.27
Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (Adi Shankaracharya) 14.27 · Chapter 14 · Verse 27
।।14.27।। --,ब्रह्मणः परमात्मनः हि यस्मात् प्रतिष्ठा अहं प्रतितिष्ठति अस्मिन् इति प्रतिष्ठा अहं प्रत्यगात्मा। कीदृशस्य ब्रह्मणः अमृतस्य,अविनाशिनः अव्ययस्य अविकारिणः शाश्वतस्य च नित्यस्य धर्मस्य धर्मज्ञानस्य ज्ञानयोगधर्मप्राप्यस्य सुखस्य आनन्दरूपस्य ऐकान्तिकस्य अव्यभिचारिणः अमृतादिस्वभावस्य परमानन्दरूपस्य परमात्मनः प्रत्यगात्मा प्रतिष्ठा? सम्यग्ज्ञानेन परमात्मतया निश्चीयते। तदेतत् ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते (गीता 14।26) इति उक्तम्। यया च ईश्वरशक्त्या भक्तानुग्रहादिप्रयोजनाय ब्रह्म प्रतिष्ठते प्रवर्तते? सा शक्तिः ब्रह्मैव अहम्? शक्तिशक्तिमतोः अनन्यत्वात् इत्यभिप्रायः। अथवा? ब्रह्मशब्दवाच्यत्वात् सविकल्पकं ब्रह्म। तस्य ब्रह्मणो निर्विकल्पकः अहमेव नान्यः प्रतिष्ठा आश्रयः। किंविशिष्टस्य अमृतस्य अमरणधर्मकस्य अव्ययस्य व्ययरहितस्य। किं च? शाश्वतस्य च नित्यस्य धर्मस्य ज्ञाननिष्ठालक्षणस्य सुखस्य तज्जनितस्य ऐकान्तिकस्य एकान्तनियतस्य च? प्रतिष्ठा अहम् इति वर्तते।।इति श्रीमत्परमहंसपरिव्राजकाचार्यस्य श्रीगोविन्दभगवत्पूज्यपादशिष्यस्य,श्रीमच्छंकरभगवतः कृतौ श्रीमद्भगवद्गीताभाष्ये चतुर्दशोऽध्यायः।।
14.27 Hi, for; aham, I, the inmost Self; am the pratistha brahmanah, Abode-that in which something abides is pratistha-of Brahman which is the supreme Self. Of Brahman of what kind? Amrtasya, of that which is indestructible; avyayasya, of that which is immutable; and sasvatasya, of that which is eternal; dharmasya, of that which is the Dharma, realizable through the Yoga of Jnana which is called dharma (virtue); and aikantikasya sukhasya, of that which is the absolute, unfailing Bliss by nature. Since the inmost Self is the abode of the supreme Self-which by nature is immortal etc.-, therefore, through perfect Knowledge it (the former) is realized with certainty to be the supreme Self. This has been stated in, 'he alifies for becoming Brahman'. The purport is this: Indeed, that power of God through which Brahman sets out, comes forth, for the purpose of favouring the devotees, etc., that power which is Brahman Itself, am I. For, a power and the possesser of that power are non-different. Or, brahman means the conditioned Brahman, since It (too,) is referred to by that word. 'Of that Brahman, I Myself, the unconditioned Brahman-and none else-am the Abode.' (The abode of Brahman) of what alities? Of that which is immortal; of that which has the ality of deathlessness; of that which is immutable; so also, of that which is the eternal; which is the dharma having the characteristics of steadfastness in Knowledge; of that which is the absolute, unestionably certain Bliss born of that (steadfastness);-'I am the Abode' is understood.