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Chapter 13 · Nature, the Enjoyer and Consciousness · 35 verses

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Nature & guṇasChapter 13 · Nature, the Enjoyer and Consciousness
13.2113.23

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 13.22

Prakṛti, puruṣa and conditioning

पुरुष: प्रकृतिस्थो हि भुङ्क्ते प्रकृतिजान्गुणान् ।

कारणं गुणसङ्गोऽस्य सदसद्योनिजन्मसु ॥ २२ ॥

puruṣaḥ prakṛti-stho hi

bhuṅkte prakṛti-jān guṇān

kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo ’sya

sad-asad-yoni-janmasu

Translation

The living entity in material nature thus follows the ways of life, enjoying the three modes of nature. This is due to his association with that material nature. Thus he meets with good and evil among various species.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Rising Above Material Nature

  1. 1Through association with material nature’s three modes, the living being experiences good and evil in different species.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that material attachment leads to repeated changes of body. Only Kṛṣṇa consciousness frees one from this cycle.
  3. 3Hear from authoritative sources to gradually reduce the desire to control material nature and experience spiritual happiness.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 13, Nature, the Enjoyer and Consciousness: prakṛti, puruṣa and conditioning.

What it teaches

Theme summary

The modes of nature condition behavior.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Rebirth & bondage

Association with material modes leads to various births.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 13.22 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to nature & guṇas?

Practice

Observe which mode shaped your last decision.

4

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 13 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 2.22The eternal soul beyond bodily deathBG 8.16Mortality, cosmic cycles and eternal destinationBG 13.20Prakṛti, puruṣa and conditioningBG 13.21Prakṛti, puruṣa and conditioningBG 7.14Crossing beyond māyā

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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Ask about BG 13.22 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.