Division of the Three Gunas - 14 - 02

The Shloka

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इदं ज्ञानमुपाश्रित्य मम साधर्म्यमागताः ।

सर्गेऽपि नोपजायन्ते प्रलये न व्यथन्ति च ॥

———

idaṁ jñānamupāśritya mama sādharmyamāgatāḥ ।

sarge’pi nopajāyante pralaye na vyathanti ca ॥

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Meaning / Summary

This verse highlights the profound benefits of spiritual knowledge, particularly the understanding of the three modes of material nature and the process of transcending them. It emphasizes that such knowledge is not merely academic but transformative, leading to liberation from the cycle of birth and death (samsara). Attaining the Lord’s ‘transcendental nature’ signifies regaining one’s original spiritual purity, bliss, and freedom, rather than becoming God Himself. It assures the devotee of an eternal existence beyond the temporary cycles of creation and dissolution of the material universe, offering freedom from suffering and anxiety.

Those who take refuge in this knowledge attain My transcendental nature. They are not born at the time of creation, nor are they disturbed at the time of dissolution.

Lord Krishna states that those who understand and take shelter in the knowledge of the three modes of material nature and how to transcend them, achieve a spiritual state similar to His own. Consequently, they are no longer subject to birth in the material world during cosmic creation, nor do they experience distress or annihilation during cosmic dissolution.

In this verse, Lord Krishna elaborates on the glorious outcome for those who properly understand and apply the spiritual knowledge He is about to impart concerning the three modes of material nature (gunas). ‘This knowledge’ (idaṁ jñānam) refers to the wisdom of discerning the influence of sattva, rajas, and tamas, and recognizing the self as distinct from these modes, which bind the embodied soul to the material world. When an individual takes ‘refuge’ (upāśritya) in this profound understanding, it implies a deep conviction and practical application of these truths in their life, leading to detachment from the material world and attachment to the Supreme. As a result, they ‘attain My transcendental nature’ (mama sādharmyamāgatāḥ). This means they acquire qualities that are akin to the divine – namely, being free from material limitations, eternal, full of knowledge, and full of bliss. It signifies a liberation from the ephemeral and imperfect nature of the material world and a return to their true spiritual identity, which is qualitatively one with the Supreme, though quantitatively distinct. The verse further explains the practical implications of this liberation: ‘They are not born at the time of creation’ (sarge’pi nopajāyante). This signifies that such liberated souls transcend the cycle of repeated birth and death (samsara). Even when the universe undergoes a new cycle of manifestation, they are not compelled to take birth in the material realm again. Furthermore, ‘nor are they disturbed at the time of dissolution’ (pralaye na vyathanti ca). The cosmic dissolution (pralaya) is a period of great upheaval and withdrawal of all material manifestations. While ordinary souls experience fear, anxiety, or are drawn back into the unmanifest state to await future creation, those who have attained the Lord’s transcendental nature remain undisturbed, unaffected by these cosmic cycles, firmly established in their eternal spiritual abode.

Sentence - 1

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इदं ज्ञानमुपाश्रित्य मम साधर्म्यमागताः ।

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Meaning

Those who take refuge in this knowledge attain My transcendental nature.

Meaning of Words

इदं	idaṁ	This
ज्ञानम्	jñānam
Knowledge Refers to the spiritual wisdom pertaining to the three modes of material nature (sattva, rajas, tamas) described in this chapter, and the understanding of how to transcend them to realize one’s true spiritual identity and relationship with the Supreme Being.
उपाश्रित्य	upāśritya
Taking refuge in Implies not merely intellectual understanding or passive acceptance, but actively adopting, relying upon, and putting this knowledge into practice in one’s life, seeking shelter in its principles and guidance.
मम	mama	My
साधर्म्यम्	sādharmyam
Transcendental nature Signifies attaining qualities similar to the divine, or the Supreme Being. This does not mean becoming God, but rather regaining one’s original spiritual, pure, and blissful nature, free from the contaminations of material existence, similar in quality to the Supreme Lord (e.g., eternal, full of knowledge, full of bliss), while maintaining individual identity.
आगताः	āgatāḥ
Attain Refers to those who have reached or achieved the state of being endowed with the described transcendental nature as a result of taking refuge in the knowledge.

Sentence - 2

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सर्गेऽपि नोपजायन्ते प्रलये न व्यथन्ति च ॥

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Meaning

They are not born at the time of creation, nor are they disturbed at the time of dissolution.

Meaning of Words

सर्गेऽपि	sarge’pi
At the time of creation Refers to the beginning of a cosmic cycle, when all living entities are manifested from the subtle state. The ‘api’ means ‘even at the time of’.
नोपजायन्ते	nopajāyante
Not born Indicates that such liberated souls are beyond the cycle of birth and death. They do not take birth in the material world, even when creation begins anew.
प्रलये	pralaye
At the time of dissolution Refers to the end of a cosmic cycle, when all material manifestations are withdrawn into the unmanifest state.
न व्यथन्ति	na vyathanti
Not disturbed Means they do not experience anxiety, distress, or suffering. They remain unaffected by the cosmic upheavals of dissolution, being situated in their eternal spiritual identity.
च	ca	And

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