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Chapter 14 · The Three Modes of Material Nature · 27 verses

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Nature & guṇasChapter 14 · The Three Modes of Material Nature
14.1914.21

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 14.20

Seeing and transcending the guṇas

गुणानेतानतीत्य त्रीन्देही देहसमुद्भ‍वान् ।

जन्ममृत्युजरादु:खैर्विमुक्तोऽमृतमश्न‍ुते ॥ २० ॥

guṇān etān atītya trīn

dehī deha-samudbhavān

janma-mṛtyu-jarā-duḥkhair

vimukto ’mṛtam aśnute

Translation

When the embodied being is able to transcend these three modes associated with the material body, he can become free from birth, death, old age and their distresses and can enjoy nectar even in this life.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

Spiritual Happiness Even Now

  1. 1By rising above the three modes, one can become free from birth, death, old age, and their distress, and enjoy spiritual happiness even now.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that spiritual knowledge frees one from the modes. Devotional service in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the sign of liberation.
  3. 3Grow in spiritual knowledge and devotional service in Kṛṣṇa consciousness to experience spiritual happiness even in this body.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 14, The Three Modes of Material Nature: seeing and transcending the guṇas.

What it teaches

Theme summary

The modes of nature condition behavior.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: prakṛti, guṇa.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 14.20 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 14 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 14.19Seeing and transcending the guṇasBG 14.21Seeing and transcending the guṇasBG 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 14.20 — 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.