Verse-18
Chapter 14 — Gunatreyavibhag Yoga
Verse 18
🕉 Original Sanskrit Shloka
ūrdhvam gacchanti sattvasthā madhye tişțhanti rājasāḥ
jaghanyagunavṛttisthā adho gacchanti tâmasäh
🕉 English Translation
Mile lok unche satoguna se hee,
Rajas purush toh janam le yahin.
Tamoguna hai jisme bahut veh adham,
Nimn yoniyon mein sadaa le janam
📜 Translation
English
Persons established in sattva go to the higher worlds; persons established in rajoguna are born in this world and those tamasic persons established in the lowly tendencies of tamoguna go downwards.
Those who have utilized their life well, have kept intact the qualities of satoguna, have also undertaken philanthrophic deeds, have also kept company of the religious ones, maintained remembrance of the Lord; though they have been unable to unite their disposition totally with the Lord but have performed the deeds of the superior and highest order, that is why such beings go to the higher worlds.
Those who are busy with their worldly affairs, and entertain desire, cravings, greed, etc. in their minds, for satisfying these their actions are always going on; they fall into the middle region, i. e. they take rebirth in this world.
When inclinations and the propensities of the tamasic beings are of the base type then birth will also be in accordance with it. That is why 'adho gacchanti tamasah'-those established tamoguna move downwards, i. e. take birth as animals, birds and insects and flies, etc.
Rebirth is the irrefutable and inviolable truth of eternal religion. What will be the next birth like? This is definitely a state which requires deliberation. One should also evaluate life according to it. In which attribute are we established? One should observe this in an unbiased manner. Which attribute is strong and predominant under the influence of which life is being lived? Be ready, further birth will be in accordance with it. This verse can startle one, can warn one, and also lift one from tamoguna and rajoguna and can bring one into the fold of satoguna. The necessity is to assess correctly and to accept the actual situation.
The reality is also beyond satoguna; that also should be observed and understood.