Bhagavad Gita BG 7.12
Chapter 7, Verse 12 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
ये चैव सात्त्विका भावा राजसास्तामसाश्च ये । मत्त एवेति तान्विद्धि न त्वहं तेषु ते मयि ॥
ye caiva sattvika bhava rajasas tamasas ca ye matta eveti tan viddhi na tv aham teshu te mayi
Meaning
Whatever states are sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic — know that they all come from Me alone. But I am not in them — they are in Me.
Understanding
All three gunas — sattva (purity/clarity), rajas (passion/activity), and tamas (inertia/darkness) — arise mattas eva (from Me alone). But the crucial distinction: na tv aham teshu — I am NOT in them. Te mayi — they are in Me. The asymmetry: everything is in Krishna, but Krishna is not confined to or defined by anything. The container is not contained by what it holds. The universe (including all three gunas) is in Krishna; Krishna is not limited by or to the universe.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| सात्त्विकाः | sattvikah | sattvic, of the quality of sattva |
| राजसाः | rajasah | rajasic, of the quality of rajas |
| तामसाः | tamasah | tamasic, of the quality of tamas |
| भावाः | bhavah | states, conditions, manifestations |
| मत्त एव | matta eva | from Me alone, only from Me |
| ये | ye | those who, which |
| च | ca | and |
| एव | eva | indeed, verily |
| सात्त्विकाः | sāttvikāḥ | of the mode of goodness |
| भावाः | bhāvāḥ | states of being, natures |
| राजसाः | rājasāḥ | of the mode of passion |
| तामसाः | tāmasāḥ | of the mode of ignorance |
| च | ca | and |
| ये | ye | those which |
| मत्त | matta | from Me |
| एव | eva | indeed |
| इति | iti | thus, know |
| तान् | tān | them |
| विद्धि | viddhi | know |
| न | na | not |
| तु | tu | but |
| अहम् | aham | I |
| तेषु | teṣu | in them |
| ते | te | they |
| मयि | mayi | in Me |