ऊर्ध्वं गच्छन्ति सत्त्वस्था मध्ये तिष्ठन्ति राजसा: |
जघन्यगुणवृत्तिस्था अधो गच्छन्ति तामसा: || 18||
ūrdhvaṁ gachchhanti sattva-sthā madhye tiṣhṭhanti rājasāḥ
jaghanya-guṇa-vṛitti-sthā adho gachchhanti tāmasāḥ
ūrdhvam—upward; gachchhanti—rise; sattva-sthāḥ—those situated in the mode of goodness; madhye—in the middle; tiṣhṭhanti—stay; rājasāḥ—those in the mode of passion; jaghanya—abominable; guṇa—quality; vṛitti-sthāḥ—engaged in activities; adhaḥ—down; gachchhanti—go; tāmasāḥ—those in the mode of ignorance
Translation:
Those who are established in sattva go upward; those who are moved by rajas remain in the middle; and those who are steeped in tamas, being weighted by the tendencies of the lowest guna, go downward.
Commentary:
Sattva-guna takes man to the higher worlds, and Rajo-guna to the middle worlds, and Tamo-guna plunges man into the lower worlds. So it is the duty of man to take refuge in Sattva and ascend to the purer worlds of light and knowledge.
Question: After death where do the Sattvic people go?
Answer: To the higher worlds of light and knowledge.
Question: Where do the Rajasic stay?
Answer: They dwell in the middle world (of men).
Question: Where do the Tamasic go?
Answer: To the lower worlds.
Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 14 🔻 (27 Verses)
