Bhagavad Gita · Gunatraya Vibhaga YogaChapter 14, Shloka 9 (14.9)
Original Sanskrit · श्रीभगवान्
सत्त्वं सुखे सञ्जयति रजः कर्मणि भारत
ज्ञानमावृत्य तु तमः प्रमादे सञ्जयत्युत
॥ 14.9 ॥
sattvaṃ sukhe sañjayati rajaḥ karmaṇi bhārata
jñānamāvṛtya tu tamaḥ pramāde sañjayatyuta
Translation
"O Bharata, sattva attaches one to happiness, rajas to action; and tamas, covering knowledge, attaches one to heedlessness."
Interpretation
Shankaracharya. jñānaṃ sattvakṛtaṃ vivekam āvṛtya ācchādya — covering the discernment produced by sattva; pramādaḥ nāma prāptakartavyākaraṇam — heedlessness = not doing the duty that is in front of you.
Acharya Ramanuja. sattvaṃ sukhasaṅgapradhānam, rajaḥ karmasaṅgapradhānam, tamaḥ tu … viparītajñānahetutayā kartavyaviparītapravṛttisaṅgapradhānam — tamas = through wrong understanding, it engages one in action contrary to duty.
Shridhara Swami. A description of the power of the gunas: sattva duḥkhaśokādikāraṇe saty api sukhābhimukham eva dehinaṃ karoti — even when there are causes for sorrow, it turns one towards happiness; rajas sukhādikāraṇe saty api … karmaṇy eva saṃjayati — even when there are causes for happiness, it engages one in action; tamas mahatsaṅgenotpadyamānam api jñānam āvṛtya — covers even the knowledge that arises from the company of great souls, mahadbhir upadiśyamānasyārthasyānavadhāne yojayati — and does not let one pay attention to their teaching.
Madhusudana Saraswati. kasya guṇasyotkarṣa — which guna predominates in which activity — this is the subject of this verse.
AI-assisted draft translation — under review.