Bhagavad Gita BG 14.6
Chapter 14, Verse 6 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
तत्र सत्त्वं निर्मलत्वात् प्रकाशकमनामयम् । सुखसङ्गेन बध्नाति ज्ञानसङ्गेन चानघ ॥
tatra sattvam nirmalattvat prakashakam anamayam sukha-sangena badhnati jnana-sangena ca 'nagha
Meaning
Among these, sattva — being stainless — illuminates and is free from disease. It binds through attachment to happiness and through attachment to knowledge, O sinless one.
Understanding
Sattva is described: nirmalattvat (because of stainlessness — sattva is the clear, pure mode). Prakashakam (illuminating — sattva enables clarity and understanding). Anamayam (free from disease/distress — sattva is the healthy mode). Yet even sattva BINDS: sukha-sangena (through attachment to happiness) and jnana-sangena (through attachment to knowledge). Even 'good' binding is binding — the sattvic person attached to feeling good or to knowing is still identified with the outcome and not free. Sattva is the nearest to liberation but still a guna.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| निर्मलत्वात् | nirmalattvat | because of stainlessness, due to purity |
| प्रकाशकम् | prakashakam | illuminating, clarifying, revealing |
| अनामयम् | anamayam | free from disease/distress, healthy, wholesome |
| सुखसङ्गेन | sukha-sangena | through attachment to happiness/pleasure |
| ज्ञानसङ्गेन | jnana-sangena | through attachment to knowledge/knowing |
| तत्र | tatra | among these |
| सत्त्वम् | sattvam | the mode of goodness |
| निर्मलत्वात् | nirmalattvāt | because of its purity |
| प्रकाशकम् | prakāśakam | illuminating |
| सुख-सङ्गेन | sukha-saṅgena | by attachment to happiness |
| बध्नाति | badhnāti | it binds |
| ज्ञान-सङ्गेन | jñāna-saṅgena | by attachment to knowledge |
| च | ca | and |
| अनघ | anagha | O sinless one |