guṇa

तत्त्ववित्तु महाबाहो गुणकर्मविभागयोः

guṇa-karma — from guṇas and karma

One who knows the truth about the strands and their workings, mighty-armed one — knowing that it is the strands acting upon the strands — is not caught.

प्रकृतेर्गुणसम्मूढाः सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु

guṇa — by the modes of material nature

Those deluded by the strands of nature grow attached to their workings. The one who knows the whole should not unsettle those who know only part.

चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः

guṇa — of quality

The four orders were brought forth by me, divided according to quality and work. Know me as their maker — and know also that I am not bound by it.

त्रिभिर्गुणमयैर्भावैरेभिः सर्वमिदं जगत्

guṇa-mayaiḥ — consisting of the modes of material nature

Deluded by these three states made of the strands, the whole world does not know me, who am above them and unchanging.

दैवी ह्येषा गुणमयी मम माया दुरत्यया

guṇa-mayī — consisting of the three modes of nature

This divine appearance of mine, made of the strands, is hard to get past. But those who take refuge in me alone cross beyond it.

सर्वेन्द्रियगुणाभासं सर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जितम्

guṇa — sense-objects

It appears through the qualities of all the senses and yet is without any sense; unattached, and yet the support of everything; without the strands of nature, and yet the enjoyer of them.

पुरुषः प्रकृतिस्थो हि भुङ्क्ते प्रकृतिजान्गुणान्

guṇān — the three modes of nature

The person, seated in nature, experiences the strands born of nature. Attachment to those strands is the cause of birth in good wombs and bad.

ऊर्ध्वं गच्छन्ति सत्त्वस्था मध्ये तिष्ठन्ति राजसाः

guṇa — quality

Those established in clarity go upward; those in restlessness remain in the middle; and those in inertia, holding to the lowest, go down.

मानापमानयोस्तुल्यस्तुल्यो मित्रारिपक्षयोः

guṇa-atītaḥ — risen above the three modes of material nature

the same in honour and dishonour, the same toward friend and enemy, having given up every grasping undertaking — that one is said to have gone beyond the strands.

अधश्चोर्ध्वं प्रसृतास्तस्य शाखा गुणप्रवृद्धा विषयप्रवालाः

guṇa — modes of material nature

Its branches spread downward and upward, nourished by the strands; its shoots are the objects of sense; and its roots reach downward too, binding to action in the world of men.

उत्क्रामन्तं स्थितं वापि भुञ्जानं वा गुणान्वितम्

guṇa-anvitam — under the spell of the modes of material nature

The deluded do not see him departing or dwelling or experiencing, joined to the strands. Those with the eye of knowledge see.

ज्ञानं कर्म च कर्ता च त्रिधैव गुणभेदतः

guṇa-bhedataḥ — distinguished according to the three modes of material nature

Knowledge, action and the doer are each of three kinds, distinguished by the strands. Hear of them too.