Bhagavad Gita BG 14.9
Chapter 14, Verse 9 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
सत्त्वं सुखे सञ्जयति रजः कर्मणि भारत । ज्ञानमावृत्य तु तमः प्रमादे सञ्जयत्युत ॥
sattvam sukhe sanjayati rajah karmani bharata jnanam avrtya tu tamah pramade sanjayaty uta
Meaning
Sattva attaches to happiness; rajas attaches to action, O Bharata; and tamas, covering knowledge, attaches to negligence.
Understanding
The three binding mechanisms compared in one verse: sattvam sukhe sanjayati (sattva attaches/binds in happiness — the sattvic person is attached to feeling clear, happy, and pure). Rajah karmani (rajas binds in action — the rajasic person cannot stop doing; action-attachment). Tamah jnanam avrtya pramade sanjayati (tamas, having covered knowledge, attaches in negligence — first it covers/veils jnana, then it locks the being into pramada = heedless unconsciousness). The mechanics: sattva = attachment to pleasant states; rajas = attachment to doing; tamas = veiling of awareness, then sinking into heedlessness. All three bind, but in different ways.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| सञ्जयति | sanjayati | attaches, binds, connects (san = together + jayati = leads to) |
| आवृत्य | avrtya | having covered, having veiled, having obscured |
| ज्ञानम् | jnanam | knowledge — here, discriminative wisdom and clarity |
| उत | uta | indeed, moreover (emphasizing the addition) |
| सत्त्वम् | sattvam | goodness |
| सुखे | sukhe | in happiness |
| सञ्जयति | sañjayati | attaches, binds |
| रजः | rajaḥ | passion |
| कर्माणि | karmaṇi | in action |
| भारत | bhārata | O Arjuna |
| ज्ञानम् | jñānam | knowledge |
| आवृत्य | āvṛtya | covering, veiling |
| तु | tu | but |
| तमः | tamaḥ | ignorance |
| प्रमादे | pramāde | in negligence |
| सञ्जयति | sañjayati | attaches |