Shloka 16

Adhyāya 39 — त्रिगुणविवेकः (Discrimination of the Three Guṇas) and Avyakta-Doctrine

Devanagari script

एवं ज्योतिष्षु सर्वेषु निवर्तन्ते गुणास्त्रय: । पर्यायेण च वर्तन्ते तत्र तत्र तथा तथा,इस प्रकार सभी ज्योतियोंमें तीनों गुण क्रमश: वहाँ-वहाँ उस-उस प्रकारसे प्रकट होते और विलीन होते रहते हैं

Transliteration

evaṁ jyotiṣṣu sarveṣu nivartante guṇās trayaḥ | paryāyeṇa ca vartante tatra tatra tathā tathā ||

Translation

Thus, in all luminous bodies, the three guṇas repeatedly subside and reappear—taking their turns and manifesting in each place in its own particular way. The teaching is that even what seems steady and radiant is governed by cyclical change in nature, so one should discern the play of qualities rather than mistake it for an unchanging self.

Word by Word

एवम्thus, in this manner

ज्योतिषुin the lights/luminous bodies

सर्वेषुin all

निवर्तन्तेcease, withdraw, come to an end

गुणाःqualities (gunas)

त्रयःthree

पर्यायेणin succession, by turns

चand

वर्तन्तेexist, operate, occur

तत्रthere, in that place/context

तत्रthere (here and there)

तथाso, in that manner

तथाso, likewise

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vayudeva

guṇas (sattva, rajas, tamas)

jyotis (luminous bodies/lights)

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

All phenomena—even luminous or exalted ones—are subject to the alternating dominance of sattva, rajas, and tamas. Recognizing this cyclical play helps one cultivate discernment and avoid identifying the self with changing states.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva is explaining a cosmological-psychological principle: across all ‘lights’ (luminous bodies or radiant manifestations), the three guṇas repeatedly manifest and withdraw in turn, differing according to context and locus.