Bhagavad Gita 13.22पुरुषः प्रकृतिस्थो हि भुङ्क्ते प्रकृतिजान्गुणान्।कारणं गुणसङ्गोऽस्य सदसद्योनिजन्मसु ॥
puruṣhaḥ prakṛiti-stho hi bhuṅkte prakṛiti-jān
guṇān kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo ’sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu
Sanskrit recitation
Matter, spirit, and freedom · 13.19–13.35 · Teaching
Translation
The soul seated in Nature experiences the qualities born of Nature; attachment to the qualities is the cause of its birth in good and evil wombs.
Hindi translation
प्रकृतिमें स्थित पुरुष ही प्रकृतिजन्य गुणोंका भोक्ता बनता है और गुणोंका सङ्ग ही उसके ऊँच-नीच योनियोंमें जन्म लेनेका कारण बनता है।
Meaning
The soul residing in Nature and identifying itself with the body and the senses which are modifications of Nature acts through the alities of Nature and experiences pleasure and pain and delusion. It thinks, I am happy, I am miserable, I am deluded, I am wise. When it thus identifies itself with the alities, it assumes individuality and takes birth in pure and impure wombs.The soul (Jivatma) enjoys the sensual objects in conjunction with the body, mind and the senses and thus becomes the enjoyer. Brahman is the silent witness and nonenjoyer. The souls attachment to the alities of pleasure, pain and delusion is the chief cause of its birth. If you add the word Samsara to the second half of the verse, it will mean Attachment to the alities is the cause of Samsara through births in good and evil wombs.Good wombs (Sat Yoni) are those of the gods and the like evil wombs (Asat Yoni) are those of lower animals. The human womb is partly good and partly evil on account of mixed Karmas.Purushah prakritisthah Purusha (the soul) seated in Prakriti (Nature). This is Avidya (ignorance). Attachment to the alities of Nature is Kama (desire). Avidya and Kama are the cause of Samsara.Jnana (wisdom) and Vairagya (dispassion) will destroy ignorance and desire. (Cf.XIV.5XV.7)
After Swami Sivananda
Matter, spirit, and freedom· 13.19–13.35→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 13.19Thus, the field, as well as knowledge and the knowable, have been briefly stated. My…
- 13.20Know that Nature (matter) and the Spirit are both beginningless, and know also that all…
- 13.21In the production of the effect and the cause, Nature (matter) is said to be the cause; in…
13.22The soul seated in Nature experiences the qualities born of Nature; attachment to the…
- 13.23The Supreme Soul in this body is also called the observer, the permitter, the sustainer,…
- 13.24He who thus knows the Spirit and Matter together with their qualities, in whatever…
- 13.25Some behold the Self within themselves through meditation, others through the Yoga of…
- 13.26Others, too, who do not know thus, worship, having heard of It from others; they, too,…
- 13.27Wherever a being is born, whether unmoving or moving, know thou, O best of the Bharatas…
- 13.28He who sees the Supreme Lord existing truly in all beings, the imperishable within the…
- 13.29For he who truly sees the same Lord dwelling everywhere does not destroy the Self by the…
- 13.30He sees, who sees that all actions are performed solely by Nature and that the Self is…
- 13.31When a person sees all beings as resting in the One and emanating from the One alone, they…
- 13.32Being without beginning, devoid of any qualities, the Supreme Self, imperishable, though…
- 13.33As the all-pervading ether is not tainted, due to its subtlety, so the Self seated…
- 13.34Just as the one sun illuminates the entire world, so too does the Lord of the field…
- 13.35They who, by the eye of knowledge, perceive the distinction between the field and its…
Word-by-word→
- hi
- indeed
- asya
- of its
- janmasu
- of birth
- guṇān
- the three modes of nature
- bhuṅkte
- desires to enjoy
- kāraṇam
- the cause
- puruṣhaḥ
- the individual soul
- sat-asat-yoni
- in superior and inferior wombs
- prakṛiti-jān
- produced by the material energy
- guṇa-saṅgaḥ
- the attachment (to three guṇas)
- prakṛiti-sthaḥ
- seated in the material energy
Related verses
- 2.57He who is everywhere without attachment, upon encountering anything good or bad, neither…
- 18.51Endowed with a pure intellect, controlling the self through firmness, relinquishing sound…
- 4.21Without hope, controlling the mind and the self, having abandoned all covetousness, and…
- 12.11If you are unable to do even this, then, resort to union with Me and renounce the fruits…