सत्त्वं सुखे सञ्जयति रजः कर्मणि भारत ।
ज्ञानमावृत्य तु तमः प्रमादे सञ्जयत्युत ॥
ज्ञानमावृत्य तु तमः प्रमादे सञ्जयत्युत ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे भरतवंशोद्भव अर्जुन सत्त्वगुण सुखमें और रजोगुण कर्ममें लगाकर मनुष्यपर विजय करता है तथा तमोगुण ज्ञानको ढककर एवं प्रमादमें भी लगाकर मनुष्यपर विजंय करता है ॥
English
Sattva binds through pleasure, rajas through action, and tamas, covering knowledge, binds through negligence.
What this verse means
Three forces shape human behavior differently: one lures with pleasure, one drives constant activity, and one hides understanding while pulling a person into carelessness.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Arjuna is still frozen while Krishna explains the three forces that shape every mind and action. This verse shows how each force captures a person in a different way: pleasure, restless doing, or dull confusion.
Why this verse still matters
You open your phone for one quick check and lose twenty minutes, then another hour chasing tasks, then realize you never thought clearly at all. This verse names the three ways the mind gets hijacked.
The takeaway
It becomes easier to notice what is steering you before it quietly takes over.
Word-by-word translation
सत्त्वम् (sattva) / सुखे (in pleasure) / सञ्जयति (binds) / रजः (rajas) / कर्मणि (in action) / भारत (O Bharata) / ज्ञानम् (knowledge) / आवृत्य (covering) / तु (but) / तमः (tamas) / प्रमादे (in negligence) / सञ्जयति (binds) / उत (also)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14: Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga — The Three Modes of Material Nature, which contains 27 verses.
Explore related themes: gunas (47 verses), sattva (26 verses), rajas (21 verses)