BHAGAVAD-GITA 14:17

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 14:17

 

sattvat sanjayate jnanam

rajaso lobha eva ca

pramada-mohau tamaso

bhavato 'jnanam eva ca

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

sattvat--from the mode of goodness; sanjayate--develops;

jnanam--knowledge; rajasah--from the mode of passion; lobhah--greed;

eva--certainly; ca--also; pramada--madness; mohau--and illusion;

tamasah--from the mode of ignorance; bhavatah--develop;

ajnanam--nonsense; eva--certainly; ca--also.

 

TRANSLATION

 

>From the mode of goodness, real knowledge develops; from the mode of

passion, greed develops; and from the mode of ignorance develop

foolishness, madness and illusion.

 

PURPORT

 

Since the present civilization is not very congenial to the living

entities, Krsna consciousness is recommended. Through Krsna

consciousness, society will develop the mode of goodness. When the

mode of goodness is developed, people will see things as they are. In

the mode of ignorance, people are just like animals and cannot see

things clearly. In the mode of ignorance, for example, they do not see

that by killing one animal they are taking the chance of being killed

by the same animal in the next life. Because people have no education

in actual knowledge, they become irresponsible. To stop this

irresponsibility, education for developing the mode of goodness of the

people in general must be there. When they are actually educated in

the mode of goodness, they will become sober, in full knowledge of

things as they are. Then people will be happy and prosperous. Even if

the majority of the people aren't happy and prosperous, if a certain

percentage of the population develops Krsna consciousness and becomes

situated in the mode of goodness, then there is the possibility for

peace and prosperity all over the world. Otherwise, if the world is

devoted to the modes of passion and ignorance, there can be no peace

or prosperity. In the mode of passion, people become greedy, and their

hankering for sense enjoyment has no limit. One can see that even if

one has enough money and adequate arrangements for sense

gratification, there is neither happiness nor peace of mind. That is

not possible, because one is situated in the mode of passion. If one

wants happiness at all, his money will not help him; he has to elevate

himself to the mode of goodness by practicing Krsna consciousness.

When one is engaged in the mode of passion, not only is he mentally

unhappy, but his profession and occupation are also very troublesome.

He has to devise so many plans and schemes to acquire enough money to

maintain his status quo. This is all miserable. In the mode of

ignorance, people become mad. Being distressed by their circumstances,

they take shelter of intoxication, and thus they sink further into

ignorance. Their future in life is very dark.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.