Chapter 18, Verse 40
Moksha Sanyaas Yoga — Sanskrit shloka, transliteration, word meanings, English translation, and commentary.
Original Sanskrit verse
Transliteration
Word meanings
na—no; tat—that; asti—exists; pṛithivyām—on earth; vā—or; divi—the higher celestial abodes; deveṣhu—amongst the celestial gods; vā—or; punaḥ—again; sattvam—existence; prakṛiti-jaiḥ—born of material nature; muktam—liberated; yat—that; ebhiḥ—from the influence of these; syāt—is; tribhiḥ—three; guṇaiḥ—modes of material nature
English translation
There is no being on earth or in heaven among the gods that is liberated from the three qualities born of Nature.
— Swami Sivananda
Listen to Shloka 18.40
Commentary
The Gunas form the warp and woof of everything as threads do in the case of cloth. Here in the world of mortals or there in the heavenworld; there is no creature that is not bound by the three qualities of Nature. Can there be a cloth without threads Can there be a man without blood and bones Can there be a mountain without stones Even so there is not a single creature in the whole universe into whose composition the three qualities of matter do not enter. The whole of creation is wrought of these three qualities. They have given rise to the Trinity (Brahma; Vishnu and Siva). In the world of mortals the triplicity of agent; action and fruit owe their origin to them. They are the cause of the different functions of the four castes. This Samsara has been compared to the peepul tree in chapter XV.1. This Samsara is made up of the three qualities and is kept up by the force of ignorance. Action; instruments of action and fruits have set the wheel of Samsara in motion and this wheel is revolving from beginningless time. It is only a liberated sage who has attained knowledge of the Self who puts a check to this wheel; goes beyond the cause and the effect; and breaks the bonds of Karma. Cut this mysterious tree of Samsara with the strong sword of nonattachment; transcend the three Gunas and rest in your own essential divine nature as ExistenceKnowledgeBliss Absolute.
Commentary by Swami Sivananda
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