Verse 14.5

सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणाः प्रकृतिसंभवाः।निबध्नन्ति महाबाहो देहे देहिनमव्ययम्।।14.5।।

sattvaṁ rajas tama iti guṇāḥ prakṛiti-sambhavāḥ nibadhnanti mahā-bāho dehe dehinam avyayam

Meaning

Yo, Arjuna, these three major vibes—sattva, rajas, and tamas—they're totally messing with your physical form, even though it's indestructible. They're like, trapping you.

Commentary

Okay, so like, sattva is, like, the GOAT. Rajas is kinda mid, and tamas is total trash. These three vibes, they're, like, totally messing with your head. They're making you cling to stuff, tricking you, and trapping you in this endless cycle of life and death. It's like, you know how you go through childhood, then adulthood, then old age? It's the same with these three vibes in your mind. You get so caught up in your body and these vibes that you're stuck in this loop of birth, death, happiness, sadness, etc., until you realize you're way more than just your body and these vibes. Guna is usually translated as 'quality,' but it's more like the building blocks of everything. It's not like the blue color of your shirt; it's way deeper. To level up and become immortal, you gotta rise above these vibes. Think of it like a reflection in water—if the water's all choppy, the reflection looks messed up, right? It's the same with your true self—it's pure, but these vibes make it seem bound. But really, your true self is always free. These vibes are just ignorance, and they depend on you. They're like, attached to you. Knowing how these vibes work is key to breaking free. Mahabaho? That's like, someone with super ripped arms, a total power move. Everyone has these three vibes; no one's immune. They're not constant, either. Sometimes one vibe is stronger than the others. Sattva is all glow-up and good vibes, rajas is all about the hustle, and tamas is, like, total darkness. Analyze everything through these three vibes, witness them, but don't let them define you. Become vibe-transcendent, and you'll achieve ultimate peace, immortality, and eternal bliss.