Chapter 14 • Verse 5
सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणाः प्रकृतिसंभवाः। निबध्नन्ति महाबाहो देहे देहिनमव्ययम्॥
sattvaṁ rajas tama iti guṇāḥ prakṛiti-sambhavāḥ nibadhnanti mahā-bāho dehe dehinam avyayam
Meaning
Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas — these qualities born of Prakriti bind the imperishable soul in the body, O mighty-armed one.
The three gunas — sattva (goodness/purity), rajas (passion/activity), and tamas (ignorance/inertia) — are nature's fundamental qualities. Though the soul is imperishable, these gunas bind it to the body through identification.
Strength Reflection
"The three gunas — sattva, rajas, tamas — bind me to the body until I transcend them."
Devotional Surrender
O Lord, help me understand these gunas so I may transcend their bondage.