Verse 18.19

Verse 18.19: “Now, knowledge, action, and agent are of three sorts just diversified according to their Guna-constitution, and are described in the Treatises classifying Guna-constituents. Listen to (my exposition of) them also: (516)

Commentary called Jnaneshwari by Jnaneshwar:

Yet, knowledge, action, and the doer (agent) already described to you, are of three sorts just diversified according to their Guna-constituents. Therefore, do not, Oh Dhananjaya, put faith in knowledge, action, and the doer (agent), since two of these (Rajas and Tamas) are the fettering ones, only the Sattva being capable of (leading a person to) salvation. Now I shall first discourse on the Sattva, pointing out its distinguishing features. These distinctive Gunas have been well explained in the Samkhya philosophy. The Samkhya philosophy is the deep sea of milk in the form of (right) thinking—the very moon that opens up the lotus bud in the form of the realization of the ‘self’; it is supreme (sovereign) among the host of metaphysical sciences according to the view of those who have a vision of knowledge. Or, it is the very Sun that distinguishes between Purusha and Prakriti that are mixed like the day and the night. In this Scripture, is measured the limitless heap (mountain) of ignorance, with the help of (the measure of) the 24 elements, enabling (one) to enjoy the bliss of the Supreme Spirit, Brahman.

That Samkhya philosophy, Oh Arjuna, has sung the praise of the three Gunas thus: these three Gunas have, with their three-fold strength, conquered whatever is visible in all the universe. The greatness of these three—Sattva, Rajas and Tamas—is so grand that it pervades (and exerts pressure on) even the Primeval Brahman infecting it with their (Gunas’) triple nature. I shall first teach you that knowledge, which accounts for and explains how all the groups (of beings) in the universe fall into the clutches of the distinctive Gunas. If the vision is clear, one can see all clearly: that way if the knowledge is pure one’s comprehension of things is also pure (i.e. correct and truthful). Therefore, I now explain to you that (Sattvika) knowledge and be attentive,” said Lord Krishna—the Treasure of all Divine Qualities.