The verse

Bhagavad Gita 18.40BG 18.40 · Chapter 18, Verse 40

Moksha Sanyasa Yoga

A declaration · expansive in mood · builds on earlier teachings

“No state is free from the three qualities of nature.”

Wisdom translation, edited by Ankur Shukla. Commentary AI-drafted, human-reviewed. Reviewed June 2026. Methodology →

The verse

न तदस्ति पृथिव्यां वा दिवि देवेषु वा पुनः ।
सत्त्वं प्रकृतिजैर्मुक्तं यदेभिः स्यात्ित्रभिर्गुणैः ॥

Sanskrit recitation0:00

There is nothing on earth, in heaven, or among the radiant beings that is free from the three qualities born of nature.

— Krishna

Bhagavad Gita · 18.40

Hindi · हिन्दी

पृथ्वीमें या स्वर्गमें अथवा देवताओंमें तथा इनके सिवाय और कहीं भी वह ऐसी कोई वस्तु नहीं है, जो प्रकृतिसे उत्पन्न इन तीनों गुणोंसे रहित हो ॥

Themes:Prakriti

Word by word

The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.

नnotतत्thatअस्तिthere isपृथिव्याम्on earthवाorदिविin heavenदेवेषुamong the radiant beingsवाorपुनःagainसत्त्वम्beingप्रकृतिजैःborn of natureमुक्तम्freedयत्whichएभिःfrom theseस्यात्may beत्रिभिःthreeगुणैःqualities

Read literallynot · that · there is · on earth · or · in heaven · among the radiant beings · or · again · being · born of nature · freed · which · from these · may be · three · qualities

Understanding the verse

Humans, gods, every realm: Krishna says none stands free of the three gunas born of prakriti.

Built onTrigunaPrakriti31

In plain words

What this verse means

Everything in the world is shaped by the three qualities of nature. Nothing in the material order is completely free from them.

On the battlefield

Context & commentary

Krishna explains the structure behind human behavior just before the final teaching on duty. Arjuna needs to see that no being or realm is outside the play of the three qualities, because that insight prepares him for the next verse on social roles.

In your life

What it looks like today

During a temple festival, the head priest loses his temper with a volunteer over the flower arrangements. Krishna's point holds even there: priest, volunteer and devotee alike act under the three gunas.

The takeaway

“You stop idealising any place, person, or state as untouchable. Everything changing is still under the same laws.”

Carry it with you