A declaration · expansive in mood · builds on earlier teachings
“All qualities arise in the divine, yet the divine is not bound by any of them.”
Know that all states of being—sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic—arise from Me. I am not in them; they are in Me.
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
Read literallywhich · and · indeed · sattvic · states of being · rajasic · tamasic · and · which · from Me · indeed · thus · them · know · not · but · I · in them · they · in Me
Every mode of nature—clear, restless, or dull—comes from Krishna. But Krishna is beyond all of them and is not confined by any one quality.
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Jnana Vijnana Yoga" (Knowledge and Wisdom).
Verse 12 sits in Chapter 7 of the Bhagavad Gita — Jnana Vijnana Yoga, "Knowledge and Wisdom". The chapter has 30 verses in total.
You feel calm in the morning, driven by noon, numb by night, and then call one of those states “me.” This verse reminds you that moods pass through you; they are not your deepest identity.
Did you like this verse?
It shifts attention from identifying with changing states to recognising the source behind them.
What this verse means
Every mode of nature—clear, restless, or dull—comes from Krishna. But Krishna is beyond all of them and is not confined by any one quality.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna is still shaken while Krishna keeps unfolding the truth behind all experience. After naming his powers in the world, Krishna now says that every quality of mind and nature comes from him, yet he remains beyond those qualities.
Why this verse still matters
You feel calm in the morning, driven by noon, numb by night, and then call one of those states “me.” This verse reminds you that moods pass through you; they are not your deepest identity.
“You can notice your moods without believing they define the deepest reality.”
Explore related themes: gunas (47 verses)