Bhakthi Shastri - OBA BG- CHAPTER 14

Section 1

Ans2.

This material world consists of three modes of material nature, an individual soul who is eternal and
spiritual gets conditioned when he comes in contact with the three modes of material nature. He gets
attracted to the material world according to his previous tastes. The material world consists of the
below three natures and the below conditions the individual soul accordingly.

A. Mode of Goodness

The mode of goodness is the highest level of nature, a conditioned soul in this mode doesn’t get

effected by the happening of the world or the miseries, they are wiser than the other conditioned
because they are the ones with knowledge and they are situated in the mode of goodness, they are
always in state of happiness, however higher knowledge they are, they are yet conditioned and have to
return as the knowledge they possess doesn’t help them to cross over the material ocean.

B. Mode of Passion

Another level of material nature is Passion, as the term suggests it is the attraction of the opposite
genders, Men and Women, in this class individuals are conditioned to the level of enjoyment, they work
very hard to satisfy their senses and thereafter enjoying the result. The modern civilization that we see
around falls in this category, we word hard like asses and hogs just to have the luxuries we want without
the knowledge of the actual Luxury.

C. Mode of Ignorance

This type of individuals are fallen to the deepest well of material nature, this group are mostly lazy and
are not interested in any activity, they doesn’t do any good for the soecity, in fact they are mostly
indulged in intoxication.

It is therefore very difficult to come out of the material nature as it binds onself to this world. Therefore,
the only possible way to get out of it is to practice Krishna consciousness.
Ans3

As per chapter 14, there are three levels of material mode, Goodness, Passion and Ignorance. A
Individual soul has to perform or is bound to perform as per the mode he is in, which is according to his
actions and being in each mode has its own effect.

• Being in mode of Goodness.

Under the mode of Goodness, people generally act pious and they know the things as they are and
what they are, and they are considered to be the purest of all the modes in material world and on
being on such a mode, one is automatically elevated to the planets of great rishis and sages and
there he will be joyfully performing his actions.

• Being in Mode of Passion

In mode of passion, people are interested in gratification without understanding the real purpose
and their actions result in misery like they hanger to make lot of money to built a house, they
struggle, the builders struggler generally it includes misery, greed , they generally enter take birth
among those engaged in fruitive actions.

• Being in Mode of Ignorance.

They are called as foolish people as they don’t understand what is real and they are so engaged in
activity that result in misery that at some point they take side of intoxication to get ridden of the
pain of material world. They are only engaged in sense gratification, they get the life of animals ,
they general become made in the material world or they go to hellish planets

Therefore, one has to elevate oneself into the mode of goodness to practice devotion and transfer
oneself from this world.
Ans 4

Arjuna after hearing about the material nature and one can transcend the modes, asks Lord Krishna
three important question

Arjuna:- What are the symptoms of the one who is transcendental to the material modes ?

Lord Krishna :- The person who are situated transcendental has no envy, he doesn’t hanker for
anything, he doesn’t have any desire for the material matters and even he doesn’t think of getting out of
the material body. He is fixed in trance, he is not influence by the material modes and therefore he is
aloof from such activities, he doesn’t act for his consciousness, he has fixed his consciousness on
Krishna.

Arjuna:- What is his behavior?

Lord Krishna:- Such a person always friendly to everyone, since he is not bound to the honor and
dishonor of others, he is equal to everyone and doesn’t discriminate anyone as he is aware that
everyone are from a single part. He is also not effected by any political or social issues as he is aware
that such things are only temporary and not permanent. He is always ready in service of the Lord,
whether it includes any hardships, he will do it for the Lord, but not for self. Such is the behavior of a
transcendental soul.

Arjuna:- One does one transcend the material modes.

Lord Krishna:- One can transcend himself form the material modes by transferring his consciousness
from material modes to serving the supreme, one can easily perform this by meditating in any
expansions of the Lord as all are same and the only to meditate on the Lord is do practice bhakti yoga-
devotional service to the Supreme Lord.

Thus the above conversations gives us a clear understanding of how a realized soul should and how can
we become one, so as to be free from the material bondage.
Section 2

Ans 6.

SUMMARY OF CHAPTER 14- THE THREE MODES OF MATERIAL NATURE

In the previous chapter Lord Krishna explains that soul takes repeated birth and death due to the
influence of material nature, in this chapter the Lord explains the three modes and how an individual
soul is bound by the material world.

Krishna initially glorifies the knowledge that he is going to impart and one who thus takes
shelter of such knowledge can attain highest position that is same nature of the lord and he is therefore
freed from the repeated birth and death. Lord says that he is the father of all the living entity by
impregnating the prakrti. However though being part of the Lord and thus eternal he is bound by the
material modes and thus takes actions accordingly. One in goodness are always happy and they are
much higher than the other, however being interested to attain honor and standard they are also bound
in material bound but being pious activities they take birth in heavenly planets whereas in mode
passion, people are only interested to satisfy their sense gratification and they work hard for that in a
state of misery and greed, they take birth to in fruitive actions, the lowest of the modes is mode of
ignorance were everyone are just mad, who doesn’t care about any knowledge, they are either lazy or
intoxicated and they eventually take birth as animals.

However, one who is transcendental to material nature will surpass these modes and will not be
entangled in the modes of material nature. On hearing it, Arjuna inquires to the lord that one can one
identify them, what are his symptoms, what are his behaviors and who can one achieve the same. Lord
Krishna further explains it to Arjuna that one who is aloof form the material world and who doesn’t
recognize himself with the material world and who doesn’t envy other nor is influence by the actions of
other and one who sees everyone equal, he is only interested to satisfy the sense of Lord and not his
sense gratification such a person is situated in transcendental mode.

In order to attain that stage one has to transfer his consciousness from material actions to
serving Krishna and the only possible way is to practice Bhakti yoga, by practicing bhakti yoga one can
actually remove the desire of material enjoyment. And one who chants the holy name of the Lord and
perform devotional service can easily get elevated to the level of Brahman, which is equal to the Lord in
quality.

Therefore, being trapped in the modes of material nature, we should always restrict our consciousness
from the material enjoyment and should dedicate our time in practicing Bhakti yoga so that we can
attain the supreme abode without falling back to the world of material misery.