रजस्तमश्चाभिभूय सत्त्वं भवति भारत ।
रजः सत्त्वं तमश्चैव तमः सत्त्वं रजस्तथा ॥
रजः सत्त्वं तमश्चैव तमः सत्त्वं रजस्तथा ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे भरतवंशोद्भव अर्जुन रजोगुण और तमोगुणको दबाकर सत्त्वगुण सत्त्वगुण, और तमोगुणको दबाकर रजोगुण, वैसे ही सत्त्वगुण और रजोगुणको दबाकर तमोगुण बढ़ता है ॥
English
Arjuna, when rajas and tamas are subdued, sattva rises. When sattva and tamas are subdued, rajas rises. When sattva and rajas are subdued, tamas rises.
What this verse means
The three qualities keep replacing one another. When one becomes stronger, the others are pushed down.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna is still frozen while Krishna explains how the three qualities shape every mind and action. This verse adds the moving pattern: one quality rises only by suppressing the others, showing that inner states are always in flux.
Why this verse still matters
You wake up sharp, then drift into fog by noon, then feel restless at night. The mind is not one fixed mood — it keeps changing hands.
The takeaway
You can stop treating your moods as permanent. What dominates now will not stay forever.
Word-by-word translation
रजः (passion) / तमः (inertia) / च (and) / अभिभूय (having overpowered) / सत्त्वम् (purity, clarity) / भवति (becomes) / भारत (Arjuna) / रजः (passion) / सत्त्वम् (purity, clarity) / तमः (inertia) / च (and) / एव (indeed) / तमः (inertia) / सत्त्वम् (purity, clarity) / रजः (passion) / तथा (likewise)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14: Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga — The Three Modes of Material Nature, which contains 27 verses.
Explore related themes: gunas (47 verses), sattva (26 verses), rajas (21 verses)