Bhagavad Gita 14.5 · Krishna
Clear, restless, heavy
सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणाः प्रकृतिसम्भवाः।
निबध्नन्ति महाबाहो देहे देहिनमव्ययम्॥
sattvaṃ rajastama iti guṇāḥ prakṛtisambhavāḥnibadhnanti mahābāho dehe dehinamavyayam
Clarity, restlessness and heaviness, the gunas born of nature, bind the undying one in the body, mighty-armed one.
Words
- guṇa
- sattva
- rajas
- tamas
- dehī
What it means
Krishna names the three gunas. Sattva, clarity and calm. Rajas, restlessness and drive. Tamas, heaviness and inertia. All three come from nature, and all three tie the dehi, the undying one in the body, to life's ups and downs. In this app, they're Clear, Restless and Heavy.
The story
Arjuna has felt all three today. Heavy despair, restless argument, and moments of clarity. Krishna now gives him names for what he's been living through.
In your life
Right now, ask yourself, am I mostly clear, restless or heavy? No judgement. Just notice. Naming the state is the first step to working with it.
Name your state. Then work with it.