Adhyāya 36

Swami SivanandaThe Blessed Lord said, "I will again declare to thee that supreme knowledge, the best of all knowledge, having known which all the sages have gone to supreme perfection after this life."

Swami GambiranandaThe Blessed Lord said, "I shall speak again of the supreme knowledge, the best of all knowledge, by realizing which all the contemplatives have reached the highest perfection from here."

Swami AdidevanandaThe Lord said, "I shall declare again another kind of knowledge: It is the best of all forms of knowledge, by knowing which all the sages have attained the state of perfection beyond this world."

Dr. S. SankaranarayanThe Bhagavat said: Further, once again I shall explain the supreme knowledge, the best among knowledges, by knowing which all the seers have gone from here to the Supreme Success.

Shri Purohit SwamiLord Shri Krishna continued: Now I will reveal to you the wisdom that is beyond knowledge, by attaining which the sages have reached perfection.

Swami SivanandaThose who, having taken refuge in this knowledge, have attained unity with Me, are neither born at the time of creation nor disturbed at the time of dissolution.

Swami GambiranandaThose who attain identity with Me by resorting to this Knowledge are not born even during creation, nor do they suffer pain during dissolution.

Swami AdidevanandaResorting to this knowledge, partaking in My Nature, they are not born at the time of creation nor do they suffer at the time of dissolution.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanHolding onto this knowledge, they have attained a state with attributes common to Me; they are neither born at the time of creation nor grieve at the time of dissolution.

Shri Purohit SwamiDwelling in wisdom and realizing My divinity, they are not reborn when the universe is recreated at the beginning of every cycle, nor are they affected when it is dissolved.

Swami SivanandaMy womb is the great Brahma; in it I place the germ; thence, O Arjuna, is the birth of all beings.

Swami GambiranandaMy womb is the great sustainer. In it, I place the seed. From that, O scion of the Bharata dynasty, all things are born.

Swami AdidevanandaMy womb is the great Brahman (i.e. Prakṛti). In it, I lay the germ. From that, O Arjuna, comes the birth of all beings.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanThe mighty Brahman is a womb for Me; and in it I lay seed; from which is the birth of all beings, O descendant of Bharata!

Shri Purohit SwamiThe eternal cosmos is My womb, in which I plant the seed from which all beings are born, O prince!

Swami SivanandaWhatever forms are produced, O Arjuna, in any womb whatsoever, the great Brahma is their womb, and I am the seed-giving father.

Swami GambiranandaO son of Kunti, whatever forms are born from all the wombs, of them the great sustainer is the womb; I am the father who deposits the seed.

Swami AdidevanandaWhatever forms are produced in any womb, O Arjuna, the Prakṛti is their great womb, and I am the sowing father.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanO son of Kunti! Whatever manifestations spring up in all the wombs, the mighty Brahman is the womb, and I am the father who sows the seed.

Shri Purohit SwamiO illustrious son of Kunti! Through whatever wombs men are born, it is the Spirit itself that conceives, and I am their father.

Swami SivanandaThese qualities, O Arjuna, born of Nature, bind fast in the body of the embodied, the indestructible: purity, passion, and inertia.

Swami GambiranandaO mighty-armed one, the qualities, viz. sattva, rajas, and tamas, born of Nature, are the immutable embodiments belonging to the body.

Swami AdidevanandaThe Gunas of Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas arise from Prakrti and bind the immutable Self in the body, O Arjuna.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanThe strands, namely the sattva, rajas, and tamas, born from the prime cause (the said mother), bind the changeless embodied soul to the body, O mighty-armed one!

Shri Purohit SwamiPurity, passion, and ignorance are the qualities that the law of nature brings forth. They fetter the free spirit in all beings.

Swami SivanandaOf these, sattva, which is luminous and healthy due to its stainlessness, binds one by attachment to happiness and knowledge, O sinless one.

Swami GambiranandaAmong them, sattva, being pure and nirmala (pure-transparent, i.e., capable of resisting any form of ignorance, and hence an illuminator, i.e. a revealer of Consciousness), is harmless. O sinless one, it binds through attachment to happiness and attachment to knowledge.

Swami AdidevanandaOf these, sattva, being without impurity, is luminous and free from morbidity. It binds, O Arjuna, through attachment to pleasure and knowledge.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanAmong them, the Sattva, being free from impurity, is illuminating and health-giving; and it binds the embodied one with attachment to happiness and also with attachment to knowledge, O sinless one!

Shri Purohit SwamiO Sinless One! Of these, purity, being luminous, strong, and invulnerable, binds one with its yearning for happiness and illumination.

Swami SivanandaKnow, O Arjuna, that Rajas is of the nature of passion, the source of thirst and attachment; it binds fast the embodied one by attachment to action.

Swami GambiranandaKnow rajas to be of the nature of passion, born of hankering and attachment. O son of Kunti, it binds the embodied one through attachment to action.

Swami AdidevanandaKnow, O Arjuna, that Rajas is of the nature of passion springing from thirst and attachment. It binds the embodied self with attachment to action.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanYou should know that Rajas is of the nature of desire and is a source of craving-attachment; and it binds the embodied one by attachment to action, O son of Kunti!

Shri Purohit SwamiPassion, engendered by thirst for pleasure and attachment, binds the soul through its fondness for activities.

Swami SivanandaBut know thou Tamas to be born of ignorance, deluding all embodied beings; it binds fast, O Arjuna, through heedlessness, indolence, and sleep.

Swami GambiranandaOn the other hand, know tamas, which deludes all embodied beings, to be born of ignorance. O scion of the Bharata dynasty, it binds through inadvertence, laziness, and sleep.

Swami AdidevanandaKnow that Tamas is born of false knowledge and deludes all embodied beings. It binds, O Arjuna, with negligence, indolence, and sleep.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanBut, you should also know that Tamas is born of ignorance and deludes all the Embodied; it binds them with negligence, laziness, and sleep, O descendant of Bharata!

Shri Purohit SwamiBut Ignorance, the product of darkness, stupefies the senses of all embodied beings, binding them with chains of folly, indolence, and lethargy.

Swami SivanandaSattva attaches to happiness, Rajas to action, O Arjuna, while Tamas, verily shrouding knowledge, attaches to heedlessness.

Swami GambiranandaO scion of the Bharata dynasty, sattva attaches one to happiness, rajas to action, while tamas, obscuring knowledge, leads to inadvertence as well.

Swami AdidevanandaSattva generates attachment to pleasure, Rajas to action, O Arjuna. But Tamas, obscuring knowledge, generates attachment to negligence.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanO descendant of Bharata! The Sattva fully dominates the Embodied in the field of happiness; the Rajas in action; but the Tamas also totally dominates in the field of negligence, by veiling knowledge.

Shri Purohit SwamiPurity brings happiness, passion brings commotion, and ignorance, which obscures wisdom, leads to a life of failure.

Swami SivanandaNow, O Arjuna, Sattva prevails, having overpowered Rajas and Tamas; then Rajas, having overpowered Sattva and Tamas; and then Tamas, having overpowered Sattva and Rajas.

Swami GambiranandaO scion of the Bharata dynasty, sattva increases by subduing rajas and tamas; rajas increases by overpowering sattva and tamas; and tamas increases by dominating over sattva and rajas.

Swami AdidevanandaPrevailing over Rajas and Tamas, Sattva predominates, O Arjuna. Prevailing over Tamas and Sattva, Rajas predominates. Prevailing over Rajas and Sattva, Tamas predominates.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanO descendant of Bharata! The Sattva increases by overpowering the Rajas and the Tamas; the Rajas increases by overpowering the Sattva and the Tamas; and the Tamas increases likewise by overpowering the Sattva and the Rajas.

Shri Purohit SwamiO Prince! Purity prevails when passion and ignorance are overcome; passion, when purity and ignorance are overcome; and ignorance when it is overcome by purity and passion.

Swami SivanandaWhen the wisdom-light shines through every gate of this body, then it may be known that Sattva is predominant.

Swami GambiranandaWhen the illumination of knowledge radiates through all the doors of the senses in this body, then one should know that sattva has greatly increased.

Swami AdidevanandaWhen knowledge, like light, illuminates from all gateways (i.e., the senses), then one should know that Sattva prevails.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanWhen the knowledge-light arises in all the gates of this body, then one should also know that the Sattva has predominantly increased.

Shri Purohit SwamiWhen the light of knowledge gleams forth from all the gates of the body, then be sure that purity prevails.

Swami SivanandaGreed, activity, the undertaking of actions, restlessness, and longing—these arise when Rajas is predominant, O Arjuna.

Swami GambiranandaO best of the Bharata dynasty, when rajas becomes predominant, these come into being: avarice, restlessness, undertaking of actions, agitation, and craving.

Swami AdidevanandaGreed, activity, undertaking of work, restlessness, and longing—these arise, O Arjuna, when Rajas predominates.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanGreed, exertion, undertaking of actions, restlessness, and craving—these are born when Rajas predominates, O chief of the Bharatas!

Shri Purohit SwamiO best of Indians! Avarice, the impulse to act, and the beginning of action itself are all due to the dominance of passion.

Swami SivanandaDarkness, inertia, carelessness, and delusion—these arise when Tamas is predominant, O Arjuna.

Swami GambiranandaO descendant of the Kuru dynasty, when tamas predominates, these come into being without exception: non-discrimination, inactivity, inadvertence, and delusion.

Swami AdidevanandaNon-illumination, inactivity, negligence, and even delusion—these arise, O Arjuna, when Tamas prevails.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanAbsence of mental illumination, lack of exertion, negligence, and mere delusion—these are born when Tamas predominates, O darling of the Kurus!

Shri Purohit SwamiDarkness, stagnation, folly, and infatuation are the results of the dominance of ignorance, O joy of the Kuru clan!

Swami SivanandaIf the embodied one meets death when Sattva is predominant, then they attain the spotless worlds of the knowers of the Highest.

Swami GambiranandaWhen an embodied one undergoes death while sattva is exclusively predominant, then he attains the untainted worlds of those who know the highest (entities).

Swami AdidevanandaIf the embodied self dissolves when Sattva prevails, then it proceeds to the pure worlds of those who know the highest.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanBut if the body-bearer dies when sattva is on the increase, then he attains to the spotless worlds of those who know the highest.

Shri Purohit SwamiWhen purity prevails, the soul, upon leaving the body, passes on to the pure regions where those who know the Highest reside.

Swami SivanandaMeeting death in Rajas, he is born among those who are attached to action; and dying in Tamas, he is born in the womb of the thoughtless.

Swami GambiranandaWhen one dies while rajas predominates, they are born among people attached to activity. Similarly, when one dies while tamas predominates, they take birth among the stupid species.

Swami Adidevananda(a) When Rajas is prevalent, one meets with dissolution and is born among those attached to work. (b) Similarly, when Tamas prevails, one who has met with dissolution is born in the womb of beings lacking intelligence.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanBy meeting death when Rajas is on the increase, he is born among those who are attached to action; likewise, by meeting death when Tamas is on the increase, he is born in the wombs of the deluded.

Shri Purohit SwamiWhen passion prevails, the soul is reborn among those who love activity; when ignorance rules, it enters the wombs of the ignorant.

Swami SivanandaThey say that the fruit of good action is Sattvic and pure; indeed, the fruit of Rajas is pain, and the fruit of Tamas is ignorance.

Swami GambiranandaThey say that the result of good work is pure and is born of Sattva. But the result of Rajas is sorrow; the result of Tamas is ignorance.

Swami AdidevanandaIt is said that the fruit of a good deed is pure and of the nature of Sattva; the fruit of Rajas is pain; and the fruit of Tamas is ignorance.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanIt is said that the fruit of good action is spotless and of the Sattva nature; whereas the fruit of Rajas is pain, and the fruit of Tamas is ignorance.

Shri Purohit SwamiThey say the fruit of a meritorious action is spotless and pure; the outcome of passion is misery, and of ignorance, darkness.

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

Swami GambiranandaFrom sattva is born knowledge, and from rajas, avarice indeed. From tamas are born inadvertence, delusion, and ignorance, to be sure.

Swami AdidevanandaFrom Sattva arises knowledge, from Rajas arises greed, from Tamas arises negligence and delusion, and from it arises ignorance.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanFrom Sattva arises wisdom; from Rajas, only greed; and from Tamas arise negligence, delusion, and ignorance.

Shri Purohit SwamiPurity engenders wisdom, passion avarice, and ignorance folly, infatuation, and darkness.

Swami SivanandaThose seated in Sattva ascend; those of Rajasic nature dwell in the middle; and those of Tamasic nature, abiding in the function of the lowest Guna, descend.

Swami GambiranandaPeople who conform to sattva go higher up; those who conform to rajas stay in the middle; those who conform to tamas, who conform to the actions of the lowest quality, go down.

Swami AdidevanandaThose who rest in Sattva ascend upwards; those who abide in Rajas stay in the middle; and those, abiding in the tendencies of Tamas descend downwards.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanThose established in Sattva ascend; those given to Rajas remain in the middle; those given to Tamas, established in the tendencies of bad qualities, descend.

Shri Purohit SwamiWhen purity is in the ascendant, the man evolves; when passion is in the ascendant, he neither evolves nor degenerates; when ignorance is in the ascendant, he is lost.

Swami SivanandaWhen the seer beholds no agent other than the Gunas and knows that which is higher than them, he attains to My Being.

Swami GambiranandaWhen the witness sees none other than the qualities as the agent, and knows that which is superior to the qualities, he attains My nature.

Swami AdidevanandaWhen the seer beholds no agent of action other than the Gunas, and knows what is beyond the Gunas, he attains to My state.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanWhen the Perceiver (the Self) finds no agent other than the Strands, and realizes That which is beyond the Strands, then he attains My state.

Shri Purohit SwamiAs soon as one understands that it is only the qualities that act and nothing else, and perceives that which is beyond, they attain My divine nature.

Swami SivanandaThe embodied one, having crossed beyond these three Gunas from which the body is evolved, is freed from birth, death, decay, and pain, and attains immortality.

Swami GambiranandaHaving transcended these three qualities, which are the origin of the body, the embodied one becomes free from birth, death, old age, and sorrows, and experiences Immortality.

Swami AdidevanandaThe embodied Self, crossing beyond these three Gunas that arise in the body, and being freed from birth, death, aging, and pain, attains immortality.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanTranscending these three strands, from which the body [etc.] is born, the embodied (the soul) is freed from birth, death, old age, and sorrow, and attains immortality.

Shri Purohit SwamiWhen the soul transcends the Qualities, which are the real cause of physical existence, then, freed from birth and death, from old age and misery, he drinks the nectar of immortality.

Swami SivanandaArjuna said, "What are the marks of one who has transcended the three qualities, O Lord? What is their conduct, and how do they go beyond these three qualities?"

Swami GambiranandaArjuna said, "O Lord, by what signs is one known who has gone beyond these three qualities? What is their behavior, and how do they transcend these three qualities?"

Swami AdidevanandaArjuna said, "What are the marks of a person who has transcended the three Gunas? What is their behavior? And how do they transcend the three Gunas?"

Dr. S. SankaranarayanArjuna said, "O Master! With what characteristic marks does he who has transcended these three strands exist? What is his behavior? How does he pass beyond these three strands?"

Shri Purohit SwamiArjuna asked, "My Lord, how can one recognize someone who has transcended the qualities? How do they act and live beyond them?"

Swami SivanandaThe Blessed Lord said, "When light, activity, and delusion are present, he does not hate them, nor does he long for them when they are absent.

Swami GambiranandaThe Blessed Lord said, "O son of Pandu, he neither dislikes illumination (knowledge), activity, nor delusion when they appear, nor does he long for them when they disappear."

Swami AdidevanandaThe Lord said, "He does not hate illumination, nor activity, nor even delusion, O Arjuna, while these prevail, nor does He long for them when they cease."

Dr. S. SankaranarayanThe Bhagavat said, "O son of Pandu! He neither abhors nor craves for illumination, exertion, and delusion, as and when they arise or cease to be."

Shri Purohit SwamiLord Shri Krishna replied: O Prince! He who does not shun the quality that is present and does not long for that which is absent;

Swami SivanandaHe who, seated like one unconcerned, is not moved by the dualities, and who, knowing that the dualities are active, is self-centered and does not move.

Swami GambiranandaHe who, sitting like one indifferent, is not distracted by the three qualities; he who, thinking that the qualities alone act, remains firm and does not move surely;

Swami AdidevanandaHe who sits like one unconcerned, undisturbed by the Gunas; who knows, 'It is the Gunas that are in motion,' and so remains unshaken;

Dr. S. SankaranarayanHe who, sitting like an unconcerned person, is not perturbed by the strands; who is ignorant of the existence of the strands; or who remains simply aware that the strands alone exist; who is not shaken;

Shri Purohit SwamiHe who maintains an attitude of indifference, who is not disturbed by the qualities, who realizes that it is only they who act, and remains calm;

Swami SivanandaWho is the same in pleasure and pain, who dwells in the Self, to whom a clod of earth, a stone, and gold are all alike, who is the same to the dear and the unfriendly, who is firm, and to whom censure and praise are one and the same.

Swami GambiranandaHe to whom sorrow and happiness are alike, who is established in his own Self, to whom a lump of earth, iron, and gold are the same, to whom the agreeable and the disagreeable are the same, who is wise, to whom censure and his own praise are the same;

Swami AdidevanandaHe who is alike in pleasure and pain, who dwells in his Self, who looks upon a clod, a stone, and a piece of gold as of equal value, who remains the same towards things dear and hateful, and who is intelligent, who regards both blame and praise of himself as equal.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanTo whom pain, pleasure, and sleep are all the same; to whom a cold, a stone, and a lump of gold are all the same; to whom both the pleasant and unpleasant things are equal; who is firm-minded; to whom blame and personal commendation are equal.

Shri Purohit SwamiWho accepts pain and pleasure as they come, is centered in their Self, to whom a piece of clay, stone, or gold are all the same, who neither likes nor dislikes, who is steadfast, indifferent alike to praise or censure;

Swami SivanandaWho is the same in honor and dishonor, the same to friend and foe, abandoning all undertakings, he is said to have transcended the dualities.

Swami GambiranandaHe who is the same under honor and dishonor, who is equitably disposed towards both friends and foes, who has renounced all undertakings—he is said to have gone beyond dualities.

Swami AdidevanandaHe who is the same in honor and dishonor, and the same to friend and foe, and who has abandoned all enterprises—he is said to have risen above the Gunas.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanWho remains equal to honor and dishonor, and equal to the sides of both the friend and the foe; and who has given up all fruits of his actions—he is said to have transcended the bonds.

Shri Purohit SwamiWho looks equally upon honor and dishonor, loves friends and foes alike, and abandons all initiative, such is he who transcends the qualities.

Swami SivanandaAnd he who serves Me with unwavering devotion, he, crossing beyond the dualities, is fit for becoming Brahman.

Swami GambiranandaAnd he who serves Me through the unswerving Yoga of Devotion, he, having gone beyond these qualities, qualifies for becoming Brahman.

Swami AdidevanandaAnd he who, with unwavering devotion through Yoga, serves Me, he, transcending the Gunas, becomes fit for the state of Brahman.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanWhoever serves me alone with an unwavering devotion to yoga, they will transcend these strands and become Brahman.

Shri Purohit SwamiAnd he who serves Me alone, with unwavering devotion, shall overcome the Qualities and become one with the Eternal.

Swami SivanandaFor I am the abode of Brahman, the immortal, immutable, and everlasting Dharma, and absolute bliss.

Swami GambiranandaFor I am the Abode of Brahman—the indestructible, immutable, eternal, Dharma, and absolute Bliss.

Swami AdidevanandaFor I am the ground of Brahman, the immortal, immutable, and eternal Dharma, and perfect bliss.

Dr. S. Sankaranarayan'I' am the support for the immortal and changeless Brahman and for its eternal attribute, the unalloyed happiness.

Shri Purohit SwamiFor I am the home of the spirit, the continual source of immortality, eternal righteousness, and infinite joy.