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Bhagavad Gita 14.17

Chapter 14, Verse 17

Part of 14: Guṇa Traya Vibhāg Yogगुणत्रयविभागयोग

सत्त्वात्सञ्जायते ज्ञानं रजसो लोभ एव च।प्रमादमोहौ तमसो भवतोऽज्ञानमेव च॥

Transliteration

sattvāt sañjāyate jñānaṁ rajaso lobha eva cha pramāda-mohau tamaso bhavato ’jñānam eva cha

Meaning

From Sattva arises knowledge, and greed from Rajas; heedlessness and delusion arise from Tamas, and also ignorance.

Word-by-word meaning
sattvātfrom the mode of goodnesssañjāyatearisesjñānamknowledgerajasaḥfrom the mode of passionlobhaḥgreedevaindeedchaandpramādanegligencemohaudelusiontamasaḥfrom the mode of ignorancebhavataḥariseajñānamignoranceevaindeedchaand
Commentary

From Sattva When Sattva becomes predominant. Sattva awakesn knowledge just as the sun causes daylight. Sattva enlightens the intellect. Greed is insatiable like fire. Greed brings misery and pain. Greed is born of Rajas. Rajas creates insatiable desire. Rajas makes one blind to the interests and the feelings of others. A Rajasic man treats others as tools to be utilised for his own selfadvancement or selfaggrandisement. Tamas produces shortsightedness, torpor and ignorance. A Tamasic man does not think a bit of the future conseences. He completely identifies himself with the body and begins to fight with people if they injure his body or speak ill of him. He is ready to do any sinful act in retaliation. He has no sense of proportion and no sense of balance or poise.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14, Verse 17?
From Sattva arises knowledge, and greed from Rajas; heedlessness and delusion arise from Tamas, and also ignorance.
Which chapter and verse of the Bhagavad Gita is this?
This is verse 17 of Chapter 14 (Guṇa Traya Vibhāg Yog — Yoga through Understanding the Three Modes of Material Nature) of the Bhagavad Gita, a scripture of 18 chapters and 700 verses spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna.