Bhagavad Gita BG 7.13
Chapter 7, Verse 13 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
त्रिभिर्गुणमयैर्भावैर् एभिः सर्वमिदं जगत् । मोहितं नाभिजानाति मामेभ्यः परमव्ययम् ॥
tribhir guna-mayair bhavair ebhih sarvam idam jagat mohitam nabhijanati mam ebhyah param avyayam
Meaning
Deluded by these states made of the three gunas, this entire world does not recognize Me — who am beyond them and imperishable.
Understanding
The diagnosis of universal delusion: tribhir guna-mayair bhavaih (by these states made of the three gunas) — mohitam (deluded, confused) — the entire world (sarvam idam jagat). Na abhijanati (does not recognize, does not know) mam (Me) — who am ebhyah param (beyond these gunas) and avyaya (imperishable, inexhaustible). The three-guna world creates a kind of hypnosis: the constant play of clarity-passion-inertia keeps the mind oscillating and prevents it from knowing the imperishable ground beneath.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| गुणमयैः | guna-mayaih | made of the gunas, composed of the three qualities |
| मोहितम् | mohitam | deluded, confused, hypnotized |
| अभिजानाति | abhijanati | knows directly, recognizes |
| परम् | param | beyond, higher than, transcendent |
| अव्ययम् | avyayam | imperishable, inexhaustible, immutable |
| त्रिभिः | tribhiḥ | by three |
| गुण-मयैः | guṇa-mayaiḥ | consisting of the three gunas |
| भावैः | bhāvaiḥ | by states of being |
| एभिः | ebhiḥ | by these |
| सर्वम् | sarvam | all |
| इदम् | idam | this |
| जगत् | jagat | universe, world |
| न | na | not |
| अभिजानाति | abhijānāti | knows, recognizes |
| माम् | mām | Me |
| एभ्यः | ebhyaḥ | beyond these |