The Three Modes of Nature · 14.18
Those situated in the mode of goodness: The Three Gunas
ऊर्ध्वं गच्छन्ति सत्त्वस्था मध्ये तिष्ठन्ति राजसाः।जघन्यगुणवृत्तिस्था अधो गच्छन्ति तामसाः॥ १४.१८ ॥
ūrdhvaṁ gachchhanti sattva-sthā madhye tiṣhṭhanti rājasāḥ
jaghanya-guṇa-vṛitti-sthā adho gachchhanti tāmasāḥ
Translation
When purity is in the ascendant, the man evolves; when passion is in the ascendant, he neither evolves nor degenerates; when ignorance is in the ascendant, he is lost.
— Shri Purohit Swami (1935), public domain
Meaning
This draft lesson introduces Bhagavad Gita 14.18 through stronger key ideas from the verse: those situated in the mode of goodness, those in the mode of passion, engaged in activities. In the context of The Three Gunas, learners connect Sanskrit vocabulary to the verse's teaching before applying it to daily choices. Review this draft before publication.
⚡ Study this verse
Quiz, word bank, and reflection