The Three Modes of Material Nature

Theme and purpose

Modes of material nature: The Supreme Lord impregnates the jīvas into the womb of prakṛti that consists of the three material modes. There is competition amongst the modes and one of them becomes prominent and influences the jīva's actions and destinations. By pure bhakti one can transcend the modes (guṇātīta).

How this chapter connects

Sections and key teachings

1. 14.1–13 The conditioning of the soul by the material modes
   4 subsections

   • 14.1–2 Kṛṣṇa glorifies the pure knowledge
   • 14.3–4 The jīva’s contact with prakṛti (matter)
   • 14.5–9 How the material modes bind the pure jīva
   • 14.10–13 Recognizing the prominence of a mode
2. 14.14–18 Effect of conditioning by the modes
   2 subsections

   • 14.14–15 Destination after death in different modes
   • 14.16–18 Result of action in different modes
3. 14.19–27 Transcending the modes (becoming guṇātīta)
   7 subsections

   • 14.19 Seeing the modes as doers and the Lord as transcendental
   • 14.20 Result of transcending the modes
   • 14.21 Arjuna’s three questions about guṇātīta (Q1-Q3)
   • 14.22 A1 – Symptoms of guṇātīta
   • 14.23–25 A2 – Behaviour of guṇātīta
   • 14.26 A3 – By pure bhakti one transcends the modes and comes to the level of Brahman
   • 14.27 Kṛṣṇa is the source of that Brahman

All verses

14.1–13

• 14.1
• 14.2
• 14.3
• 14.4
• 14.5
• 14.6
• 14.7
• 14.8
• 14.9
• 14.10
• 14.11
• 14.12
• 14.13

14.14–18

• 14.14
• 14.15
• 14.16
• 14.17
• 14.18

14.19–27

• 14.19
• 14.20
• 14.21
• 14.22–25
• 14.26
• 14.27