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Shloka 21

Mokṣa–Saṃnyāsa–Tyāga–Guṇa-Vibhāga (Renunciation, Relinquishment, and the Three Guṇas) — Mahābhārata 6, Bhīṣma-parva

पुरुष: प्रकृतिस्थो हि भुड्क्ते प्रकृतिजान्‌ गुणान्‌ । कारणं गुणसड्रो5स्य सदसद्योनिजन्मसु,प्रकृतिमें स्थित ही पुरुष प्रकृतिसे उत्पन्न त्रिगुणात्मक पदार्थोंकी भोगता हैः और इन गुणोंका संग ही इस जीवात्माके अच्छी-बुरी योनियोंमें जन्म लेनेका कारण है

puruṣaḥ prakṛtistho hi bhuṅkte prakṛtijān guṇān | kāraṇaṁ guṇasaṅgo ’sya sadasadyonijanmasu ||

Arjuna nói: Puruṣa, khi trú trong Prakṛti, liền trải nghiệm các guṇa sinh từ Prakṛti. Sự kết giao, dính mắc với các guṇa ấy là nguyên nhân khiến ngã thể này sinh vào những thai tạng thiện và ác.

पुरुषःthe person / self (puruṣa)
पुरुषः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपुरुष
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
प्रकृतिस्थःsituated in prakṛti
प्रकृतिस्थः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रकृतिस्थ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
हिindeed / for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
भुङ्क्तेenjoys / experiences
भुङ्क्ते:
TypeVerb
Rootभुज्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Atmanepada
प्रकृतिजान्born of prakṛti
प्रकृतिजान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रकृतिज
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
गुणान्qualities (guṇas)
गुणान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootगुण
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
कारणम्cause
कारणम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकारण
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
गुणसङ्गःassociation with the guṇas
गुणसङ्गः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootगुणसङ्ग
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अस्यof this (one)
अस्य:
TypePronoun
Rootइदम्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular
सत्in good (states)
सत्:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootसत्
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
असत्in bad (states)
असत्:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootअसत्
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
योनिजन्मसुin births in wombs/species
योनिजन्मसु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootयोनिजन्मन्
FormNeuter, Locative, Plural

अजुन उवाच

A
Arjuna
P
puruṣa (embodied self)
P
prakṛti
G
guṇas (sattva, rajas, tamas)

Educational Q&A

The soul’s repeated birth into higher or lower conditions is driven by its attachment and identification with the guṇas of prakṛti; ethical and spiritual progress depends on loosening this guṇa-saṅga and cultivating discernment.

In the Bhīṣma Parva’s philosophical instruction, Arjuna voices a doctrinal point about how the embodied self, while dwelling in prakṛti, undergoes experiences shaped by the guṇas, and how this association becomes the causal link to future births.