Srimad Bhagavad Gita -Ramanujacharya 427

Srimad Bhagavad Gita -Ramanujacharya

Chapter-13 Prakṛti-Puruṣa-vivek Yogaḥ

puruṣaḥ prakṛtistho hi bhuṅkte prakṛtijān guṇān | kāraṇaṃ guṇa saṅgo’sya sadasad yoni janmasu || 22 || 22. Indeed, the Puruṣa (Self) situated in Prakrti (Material Nature) experiences the effects (Gunas) that arise from Prakrti. Its attachment to these Gunas is the cause of birth in higher and lower species. Commentary The Self (in its pristine state) experiences itself by itself, as nothing but pure joy. But when embodied and in conjunction with Prakrti, It experiences the products which arise from Prakrti, namely; happiness, suffering etc, which are the effects of the Gunas — Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. The Self, transmigrating through a series of bodies like those of gods, humans and animals, which are all modifications of Prakrti, becomes involved in the happiness and pain resulting from the experiences associated with these respective species. It then engages itself in skilful (puṇya) and unskilful (pāpa) deeds, which produce results in the form of happiness and suffering. Now in order to reap the fruits of these good and evil deeds, the Self is born again in pleasant and unpleasant circumstances. Then it again becomes active, and thus perpetuates the cycle of reincarnation. As long as the virtues like humility etc., which are the means for realising the Self, are not developed, its entanglement in Samsāra is perpetuated. Thus, it has been declared here, that attachment causes births in higher and lower species.