Bhagavad Gita · Verse 13.21
Chapter 13: Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga (क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञविभागयोगः)
(The Supreme Lord said)
पुरुषः प्रकृतिस्थो हि भुङ्क्ते प्रकृतिजान्गुणान् । कारणं गुणसङ्गोऽस्य सदसद्योनिजन्मसु ॥२१॥
puruṣaḥ prakṛtistho hi bhuṅkte prakṛtijānguṇān | kāraṇaṃ guṇasaṅgo'sya sadasadyonijanmasu ||21||
Complete Shloka Translation
Purusha, situated in prakriti, experiences the gunas born of prakriti. Attachment to these gunas causes its births in favorable and unfavorable wombs.
Word-by-Word Translation (Padartha / Anvaya)
| Sanskrit Term (पद) | IAST Roman | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| गुणसङ्ग | guṇasaṅga | attachment to the gunas |
| योनि | yoni | womb or birth condition |
| पुरुषः | puruṣaḥ | [term] in context of Purusha, situated in prakriti,... |
| प्रकृतिस्थो | prakṛtistho | [term] in context of Purusha, situated in prakriti,... |
| हि | hi | [term] in context of Purusha, situated in prakriti,... |
| भुङ्क्ते | bhuṅkte | [term] in context of Purusha, situated in prakriti,... |
| प्रकृतिजान्गुणान् | prakṛtijānguṇān | [term] in context of Purusha, situated in prakriti,... |
| कारणं | kāraṇaṃ | [term] in context of Purusha, situated in prakriti,... |
| गुणसङ्गोऽस्य | guṇasaṅgo'sya | [term] in context of Purusha, situated in prakriti,... |
| सदसद्योनिजन्मसु | sadasadyonijanmasu | [term] in context of Purusha, situated in prakriti,... |
| २१ | sadasadyonijanmasu | [term] in context of Purusha, situated in prakriti,... |
attachment to the gunas
womb or birth condition
[term] in context of Purusha, situated in prakriti,...
[term] in context of Purusha, situated in prakriti,...
[term] in context of Purusha, situated in prakriti,...
[term] in context of Purusha, situated in prakriti,...
[term] in context of Purusha, situated in prakriti,...
[term] in context of Purusha, situated in prakriti,...
[term] in context of Purusha, situated in prakriti,...
[term] in context of Purusha, situated in prakriti,...
[term] in context of Purusha, situated in prakriti,...
Detailed Commentary & Meaningful Thoughts
The verse explains rebirth through attachment to nature’s gunas. Favorable and unfavorable births are traditional karmic language, not a measure of a living person’s worth.
Philosophical Reflection & Self-Inquiry
"Notice how attachment keeps recurring patterns alive."
Inquiry Question to Ponder:
Which attachment sustains a recurring pattern in your life?
Modern Life Implementation (Practical Real-Life Application)
Apply this verse to master daily focus: anchor your consciousness in higher values, let go of anxious attachment to results, and act with integrity and kindness in every endeavor.