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CHAPTER FOURTEEN The Three Modes of Material NatureTEXT 1: The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Again I shall
declare to you this supreme wisdom, the best of all knowledge, knowing which
all the sages have attained the supreme perfection. TEXT 2: By becoming fixed in this knowledge, one can attain to the
transcendental nature like My own. Thus established, one is not born at the
time of creation or disturbed at the time of dissolution. TEXT 3: The total material substance, called Brahman, is the
source of birth, and it is that Brahman that I impregnate, making possible
the births of all living beings, O son of Bharata. TEXT 4: It should be understood that all species of life, O son of
Kuntī, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the
seed-giving father. TEXT 5: Material nature consists of three modes – goodness,
passion and ignorance. When the eternal living entity comes in contact with
nature, O mighty-armed Arjuna, he becomes conditioned by these modes. TEXT 6: O sinless one, the mode of goodness, being purer than the
others, is illuminating, and it frees one from all sinful reactions. Those
situated in that mode become conditioned by a sense of happiness and
knowledge. TEXT 7: The mode of passion is born of unlimited desires and
longings, O son of Kuntī, and because of this the embodied living entity is
bound to material fruitive actions. TEXT 8: O son of Bharata, know that the mode of darkness, born of
ignorance, is the delusion of all embodied living entities. The results of
this mode are madness, indolence and sleep, which bind the conditioned soul. TEXT 9: O son of Bharata, the mode of goodness conditions one to
happiness; passion conditions one to fruitive action; and ignorance, covering
one’s knowledge, binds one to madness. TEXT 10: Sometimes the mode of goodness becomes prominent,
defeating the modes of passion and ignorance, O son of Bharata. Sometimes the
mode of passion defeats goodness and ignorance, and at other times ignorance
defeats goodness and passion. In this way there is always competition for
supremacy. TEXT 11: The manifestation of the mode of goodness can be
experienced when all the gates of the body are illuminated by knowledge. TEXT 12: O chief of the Bhāratas, when there is an increase in the
mode of passion the symptoms of great attachment, fruitive activity, intense
endeavor, and uncontrollable desire and hankering develop. TEXT 13: When there is an increase in the mode of ignorance, O son
of Kuru, darkness, inertia, madness and illusion are manifested. TEXT 14: When one dies in the mode of goodness, he attains to the
pure higher planets of the great sages. TEXT 15: When one dies in the mode of passion, he takes birth
among those engaged in fruitive activities; and when one dies in the mode of
ignorance, he takes birth in the animal kingdom. TEXT 16: The result of pious action is pure and is said to be in
the mode of goodness. But action done in the mode of passion results in
misery, and action performed in the mode of ignorance results in foolishness. TEXT 17: From the mode of goodness, real knowledge develops; from
the mode of passion, greed develops; and from the mode of ignorance develop
foolishness, madness and illusion. TEXT 18: Those situated in the mode of goodness gradually go
upward to the higher planets; those in the mode of passion live on the
earthly planets; and those in the abominable mode of ignorance go down to the
hellish worlds. TEXT 19: When one properly sees that in all activities no other
performer is at work than these modes of nature and he knows the Supreme
Lord, who is transcendental to all these modes, he attains My spiritual
nature. TEXT 20: When the embodied being is able to transcend these three
modes associated with the material body, he can become free from birth,
death, old age and their distresses and can enjoy nectar even in this life. TEXT 21: Arjuna inquired: O my dear Lord, by which symptoms is one
known who is transcendental to these three modes? What is his behavior? And
how does he transcend the modes of nature? TEXTS 22-25: The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O son of Pāṇḍu, he who does not hate
illumination, attachment and delusion when they are present or long for them
when they disappear; who is unwavering and undisturbed through all these
reactions of the material qualities, remaining neutral and transcendental,
knowing that the modes alone are active; who is situated in the self and regards
alike happiness and distress; who looks upon a lump of earth, a stone and a
piece of gold with an equal eye; who is equal toward the desirable and the
undesirable; who is steady, situated equally well in praise and blame, honor
and dishonor; who treats alike both friend and enemy; and who has renounced
all material activities – such a person is said to have transcended the modes
of nature. TEXT 26: One who engages in full devotional service, unfailing in
all circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus
comes to the level of Brahman. TEXT 27: And I am the basis of the impersonal Brahman, which is
immortal, imperishable and eternal and is the constitutional position of
ultimate happiness. |