Step 4 of 7 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Pick any verse to see what it means and how to use it in your life.

  1. 1Tap a chapter, then a verse
  2. 2Read what it means
  3. 3Try the practice
700 verses37 detailed
Or browse by chapter
Chapter

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

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627

Deep profile← → keys move between verses

Bhakti & surrenderChapter 14 · The Three Modes of Material Nature
14.2514.27

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 14.26

Devotion transcends the guṇas

मां च योऽव्यभिचारेण भक्तियोगेन सेवते ।

स गुणान्समतीत्यैतान्ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते ॥ २६ ॥

māṁ ca yo ’vyabhicāreṇa

bhakti-yogena sevate

sa guṇān samatītyaitān

brahma-bhūyāya kalpate

Translation

One who engages in full devotional service, unfailing in all circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

Devotion Beyond Material Nature

  1. 1Full devotional service, steady in all circumstances, immediately lifts one beyond the modes of material nature to the level of Brahman.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that the devotee shares Kṛṣṇa’s spiritual qualities but remains an individual, exchanging love with Him.
  3. 3Rather than being disturbed by material nature’s activities, focus on acting for Kṛṣṇa with steady determination.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 14, The Three Modes of Material Nature: devotion transcends material modes.

What it teaches

Study note

A direct spiritual remedy is given for material conditioning.

How it feels

Interpretive

Hope for transcendence

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Three modes

Unfailing bhakti transcends the modes.

Devotional service

Unfailing devotional service transcends the modes.

Liberation

Devotional service transcends the modes.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I only trying to optimize my circumstances, or transcend material conditioning?

Practice

Strengthen a steady devotional habit regardless of changing moods.

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 14.5How goodness, passion and ignorance bindBG 14.6How goodness, passion and ignorance bindBG 14.7How goodness, passion and ignorance bindBG 14.8How goodness, passion and ignorance bindBG 6.47The highest yogi is devotedBG 9.26A small offering filled with loveBG 12.2Krishna describes devotional practice and progressionBG 8.15Undeviating devotional remembrance

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

Ask the study guide

Ask about BG 14.26 — 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.