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Bhagavad Gita · 14.11 · Yoga through Understanding the Three Modes of Material Nature·11 of 27

सर्वद्वारेषु देहेऽस्मिन्प्रकाश उपजायतेज्ञानं यदा तदा विद्याद्विवृद्धं सत्त्वमित्युत

sarva-dvāreṣhu dehe ’smin prakāśha upajāyate

jñānaṁ yadā tadā vidyād vivṛiddhaṁ sattvam ity uta

Sanskrit recitation

Three moods of nature · 14.1–14.18 · Teaching

Translation

When the wisdom-light shines through every gate of this body, then it may be known that Sattva is predominant.

Meaning

When a particular quality becomes predominant, it reveals its distinctive characteristics in man. Just as jasmine scatters its fragrance far and wide, so also knowledge disseminates itself in all directions. Convert Tamas into Rajas and Rajas into Sattva. Now stand firm in Sattva. You will get increase of light, purity, peace and harmony. Sattva will lead you upwards. You will have an upward pull towards the Supreme Light. Sattvic diet, Japa, meditation, study of holy scriptures, living in seclusion, company of holy men, singing His Names and glories, and regulation of breath (Pranayama) will increase Sattva.Introspect. Look within. Watch the Gunas carefully. Be vigilant. Stand as a doorkeeper. Allow only Sattvic thoughts to pass through the door of the mental factory. Check Rajas. Curb Tamas. When Sattva predominates there is unruffled peace of mind, inner harmony, perfect serenity and tranillity. There is clarity or clear vision also. The understanding is not clouded. There is penetrative insight. The door or threshold of intuition is wide open. The senses will not run towards external objects.The senses are the avenues of senseknowledge. They are the gateways of perception for the Self. When light shines in all the gates of the body, such as the eyes, the ears, etc. (in other words when there is the manifestation of the BuddhiVritti of the Antahkarana), then knowledge arises

After Swami Sivananda

Three moods of nature· 14.1–14.18

Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.

Word-by-word
iti
thus
uta
certainly
dehe
body
asmin
in this
sarva
all
tadā
then
yadā
when
sattvam
mode of goodness
vidyāt
know
jñānam
knowledge
upajāyate
manifest
dvāreṣhu
through the gates
vivṛiddham
predominates
prakāśhaḥ
illumination

Related verses

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