guṇān

प्रकृतिं पुरुषं चैव विद्ध्यनादी उभावपि

guṇān — the three modes of nature

Know that nature and the person are both without beginning. Know too that the changes and the strands arise from nature.

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.

गुणानेतानतीत्य त्रीन्देही देहसमुद्भवान्

guṇān — the three modes of material nature

Having gone beyond these three strands, out of which the body arises, the embodied one is freed from birth, death, old age and pain, and reaches the deathless.

कैर्लिंगैस्त्रीन्गुणानेतानतीतो भवति प्रभो

guṇān — modes of material nature

By what signs is one known who has gone beyond these three strands, lord? How does such a person behave, and how do they pass beyond them?

मां च योऽव्यभिचारेण भक्ितयोगेन सेवते

guṇān — the three modes of material nature

And one who serves me with unwavering devotion, going beyond these strands, is fit for the state of Brahman.