Chapter 7, Verse 12
Gyaan Vigyana Yoga — Sanskrit shloka, transliteration, word meanings, English translation, and commentary.
Original Sanskrit verse
Transliteration
Word meanings
ye—whatever; cha—and; eva—certainly; sāttvikāḥ—in the mode of goodness; bhāvāḥ—states of material existence; rājasāḥ—in the mode of passion; tāmasāḥ—in the mode of ignorance; cha—and; ye—whatever; mattaḥ—from me; eva—certainly; iti—thus; tān—those; viddhi—know; na—not; tu—but; aham—I; teṣhu—in them; te—they; mayi—in me
English translation
Whatever beings (and objects) that are pure, active, and inert, know that they proceed from Me. They are in Me, yet I am not in them.
— Swami Sivananda
Listen to Shloka 7.12
Commentary
This is a world of the three Gunas; viz.; Sattva (purity); Rajas (passion) and Tamas (inertia). All sentient and insentient objects are the aggregate of these three qualities of Nature. One ality predominates in them and the predominant ality imparts to the object its distinctive character or definite properties. In the gods; sages milk and green gram; Sattva is predominant. In Gandharvas (a class of celestials); kings; warriors and chillies; Rajas is predominant. In demons; Sudras; garlic; onion and meat; Tamas is predominant. Though these beings and objects proceed from Me; I am not in them they are in Me. I am independent. I am the support for them they depend on Me just as the superimposed snake depends on the rope. The snake is in the rope; but the rope is never in the snake. The waves belong to the ocean but the ocean does not belong to the waves. (Cf. IX.4and6)
Commentary by Swami Sivananda
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