Bhagavad Gita BG 14.10
Chapter 14, Verse 10 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
रजस्तमश्चाभिभूय सत्त्वं भवति भारत । रजः सत्त्वं तमश्चैव तमः सत्त्वं रजस्तथा ॥
rajas tamash cAbhibhuya sattvam bhavati bharata rajah sattvam tamash caiva tamah sattvam rajas tatha
Meaning
Now sattva prevails, having overpowered rajas and tamas, O Bharata; now rajas prevails over sattva and tamas; now tamas prevails over sattva and rajas.
Understanding
The dynamic nature of the gunas — they do not coexist equally; one always prevails: rajas-tamas cAbhibhuya sattvam bhavati (sattva comes to be, having overcome rajas and tamas). Rajah sattvam tamash caiva (rajas overcomes sattva and tamas). Tamah sattvam rajas tatha (tamas overcomes sattva and rajas). This is the key to self-observation: at any moment, one guna is dominant and the others are suppressed. After deep sleep (tamas), clarity (sattva) may arise; after intense work (rajas), exhaustion (tamas) may follow. The gunas rotate and compete. Freedom begins with recognizing which guna is dominant rather than being unconsciously driven by it.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अभिभूय | abhibhuya | having overpowered, having overcome, having suppressed |
| भवति | bhavati | becomes, prevails, comes to be dominant |
| तथा | tatha | likewise, similarly, in the same way |
| रजः | rajaḥ | passion |
| तमः | tamaś ca | and ignorance |
| अभिभूय | abhibhūya | overpowering |
| सत्त्वम् | sattvam | goodness |
| भारत | bhārata | O descendant of Bharata |
| रजः | rajaḥ | passion |
| सत्त्वम् | sattvam | goodness |
| तमः | tamaś caiva | and also ignorance |
| तमः | tamaḥ | ignorance |
| सत्त्वम् | sattvam | goodness |
| रजः | rajas tathā | passion, thus |