Gunan etan atitya trin dehi deha-samudbhavan, janma-mrityu-jara-duhkhair vimukto 'mritam ashnute
When the embodied being transcends these three gunas associated with the body, they are freed from birth, death, old age, and suffering, and attains immortality.
- •Transcending the gunas brings liberation
- •Freedom from the cycle of birth and death
- •Immortality through transcendence
Adhaśh chordhvaṁ prasṛitās tasya śhākhā guṇa-pravṛiddhā viṣhaya-pravālāḥ, adhaśh cha mūlāny anusantatāni karmānubandhīni manuṣhya-loke
The branches of the tree extend both upward and downward, nourished by the three gunas, with sense objects as the sprouts. Its roots extend downward, binding one to actions in the human world.
- •Cosmic tree represents material existence
- •Gunas nourish worldly attachments
- •Roots of karma bind us to the world
Na tad asti pṛithivyāṁ vā divi deveṣhu vā punaḥ, sattvaṁ prakṛiti-jair muktaṁ yad ebhiḥ syāt tribhir guṇaiḥ
There is no being on earth, or in heaven among the celestial gods, that is free from the three gunas born of material nature.
- •All beings influenced by gunas
- •Material nature pervades all
- •Transcendence requires special effort