Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14, Verse 15

English Translation

When one dies while rajas predominates, he is born among people attached to activity. Similarly, when one dies while tamas predominates, he takes birth among the stupid species.

Detailed Commentary

।।14.15।। Explanation: *Rajasi pralayam gatva karmasangeeshu jayate* – If, at the time of death, a person experiences an increase in *Rajoguna*, manifesting as greed (*lobha*), restlessness (*pravritti*), agitation (*ashanti*), craving (*sprha*), etc., and they cast off the body while contemplating these, then they are born among human beings who are attached to *karmas* (actions). One who has performed good *karmas* and maintained good conduct throughout life, and whose dispositions have been good, if such a person dies at the final moment with an increase in *Rajoguna*, then even upon being born in a human *yoni*, their conduct and dispositions will remain good. If a person who has led an ordinary life dies at the final moment due to an increase in *Rajoguna*-related propensities such as greed, they will certainly be attached to a person, an object, or an action. If a person whose life has been dominated by lust (*kama*), anger (*krodha*), etc., dies with an increase in *Rajoguna*, then, upon being born in a human *yoni*, they will specifically possess *asuri pravritti* (demonic tendencies). The implication is that even upon being born in a human *yoni*, there are three types of humans based on the *gunas*. It is particularly noteworthy that those who become humans after dying with an increase in *Rajoguna*, regardless of their conduct, possess *Viveka* (discrimination/discernment) bestowed by Bhagavan. Therefore, every human being, by valuing this *Viveka*, can purify it through *Satsang* (company of the wise/truth) and *Swadhyaya* (self-study of scriptures) and rise higher, thereby attaining *Paramatma*. Because of this Divine-bestowed *Viveka*, all human beings are entitled to attain Bhagavan. *Praleenastamasi mudhayonishu jayate* – If, at the time of death, *Tamoguna* increases in a person, meaning the propensities of *Tamoguna* such as heedlessness (*pramada*), delusion (*moha*), darkness (*aprakasha*), etc., increase, and they die contemplating these propensities, then they are born in the *mudha yonis* (deluded species/wombs) such as animals, birds, insects, moths, trees, creepers, etc. *Mudhata* (delusion) is present in all these *yonis*, but it differs in degree; for example, there is more *mudhata* in *yonis* like trees and creepers, whereas there is less in *yonis* like animals and birds. If a person who performs good *karmas* dies with a sudden increase in a *Tamoguna* propensity in their final moments and enters *mudha yonis*, then even there, their qualities (*gunas*) and conduct (*acharan*) will be good. Their nature will be to perform good *karmas*. For instance, the final moments of sage Bharata were spent in a *Tamoguna* propensity, i.e., contemplating a *harin* (deer), so he became a deer. However, his renunciation (*tyaga*) and austerity (*tapa*) performed in human life remained the same even in the deer birth. Even in the deer *yoni*, he did not stay with his mother and ate only dry leaves. Connection: Why do humans dying with a sudden increase of *gunas* in their final moments experience such destinies? This is explained in the next *shloka*.