A summary of Chapter 14 of the Bhagawad Geeta

1. Chapter 14
Gunatraya-Vibhaaga
Yoga
The Three Nature Modalities
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2. INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 14
CH 13 – KSHETRA –
KSHETRAJNA Interaction
Lord Krishna explains that the
Atman is entangled in the body,
caught by the three modes.
CH 14 – He will explain how the
entanglement is caused, and
how to be released.
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3. CHAPTER 14
GUNATRAYA VIBHAAGA YOGA
Verse 1 + 2
- Self knowledge
GREATEST
- Attain to Nature of
Bhagawan, Freed
from Birth & Death.
Verse 3 + 4
Process of CREATION
- Blessed by Purusha,
Prakriti gives birth to
Universe.
- Lord enlivens womb
of the Universe
Verse 5 - 18
- 3 Gunas - Born of Prakriti.
- Bondage.
5 Topics :
a) Definition of 3 Gunas
b) Mode of binding
c) Sign of Predominance
d) Travel after Death
e) Consequence in this life.
Verse 19 + 20
- Transcend Gunas by
knowledge (Moksha).
- Be Gunateeta and gain
freedom from Birth &
Death.
Verse 21 - 25
Characteristics of
Gunateeta
Conduct in the World
- No “I” notion in his
body or my notion in
the world.
- Unaffected by
pleasure – Pain, Praise
– Censure, Honour –
Dishonour.
- They are play of
Prakriti.
- Being full, free from
selfish activities.
- Sthitaprajna
- Parabhakta
HOW does he go
beyond Gunas?
Verse 26 + 27
- Bhakti as Sadhana.
- By Gods grace, one
gets a Guru, and
Knowledge.
- Bhakta fit to attain
Brahman’s Nature –
which is immortality
and Absolute
Ananda.
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4. Verse 1
(Muni = Manana Silavan – Man of contemplation and reflection.)
Para Jnanam – Brahma Vidya Apara Jnanam
- End in itself.
- Knowledge of whole and
knowing it, nothing remains to
be known.
- Endless – Chemistry, physics….
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5. Maya Shakti
MACRO
COSMIC
LEVEL
SATTVA
GUNA
RAJO GUNA TAMO
GUNA
WOMB - MAYA: Adi – Paraashakti
The TOTALITY of UNmanifest and
UNdifferentiated names and forms
TOTAL CAUSAL BODY – EQUILIBRIUM OF SRT
HIRANYAGARBHA – TOTAL M-I
These powers becomes
Manifest as three GUNAS:
Sattva, Rajas, Tamas.
Consciousness
5
+

6. Verse 3 :
Cause of Creation
- Intelligent / Efficient cause /
Nimitta Karanam.
- Param / Brahman / Father
- FATHER FREES!
- Material cause / Upadana
Karanam.
- Prakriti / Maya / Mother
- MOTHER BINDS
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MICRO and MACRO
Individual Body
- Avidya / Ignorance.
- Individual Ego is under
control of Avidya.
Total Body
- Total Prakriti = Maya
- Maya is under the
control of Isvara.

7. ALL 3 GUNAS operate in everything, in varying degrees.
When
Sattvaguńa predominates, we call it “Sáttvika”
Rajoguńa predominates: “Rájasika”
Tamoguńa predominates: “Támasika” 7

8. SATTVIC RAJASIC TAMASIC
UPSIDE DOWN
OR DULL PERCEPTION
DISTORTED PERCEPTION
CLEAR PERCEPTION
SATTVA - Balance, Harmony, Goodness, Purity, Unification, Construction, Creation, Positivity, Peace
RAJAS - Passion, Activity, Good/Bad/Neutral depending on usage, Egocentric, Individualizing,
Dynamic
TAMAS - Imbalance, Disorder, Chaos, Anxiety, Impurity, Depression, Delusion, Negativity, Dullness,
Inertia, Violence, Ignorance
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9. 9

10. 10
SAATTWIC RAAJASIC TAAMASIC
Colour
Nature (14.6 to 14.8)
Pure, bright, healthy
(good)
Passionate, thirsty,
attached (bad)
Inert, Ignorant
(Indifferent)
Effects (14.6 to 14.8)
Binds to Joy (hates
disturbance),
Knowledge
Binds to Activity
(anxiety for fruit)
Binds to Heedlessness,
Laziness and Sleep
Intellect influenced by Clarity Vikshepa Avarana
Symptoms (14.11 to
14.13)
Awareness shines
through every portal
Greed, new activities,
restlessness, worldly
Dullness, inactivity,
heedlessness, delusions
Afterlife (14.14, 14.15,
14.18)
Higher worlds - seeking field
that fulfils higher desire
Born amongst active,
materialistic, goal oriented
Born amongst animal(istic),
lower, indolent
Fruit (14.16) Pure Joy Suffering Ignorance
Functions of Gunas
(14.17)
Gives rise to
knowledge/wisdom
Gives rise to greed
Gives rise to
misapprehensions
Direction of Flow
(14.18)
Evolution (qty of joy or
peace) - rising
Level -same Devolution - downwards

11. 11

12. DIAGNOSTIC CHART
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13. 13