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Chapter 7 • Verse 13
The Yoga of Knowledge and Wisdom
MEANING & CONTEXT
Krishna reveals the cause of ignorance: Maya, the three gunas. 'Tribhir guṇa-mayair bhāvair ebhiḥ'—by the three gunas (goodness, passion, ignorance), 'sarvam idaṁ jagat mohitam'—the entire world is deluded. 'Nābhijānāti mām ebhyaḥ param avyayam'—does not know Me, who am beyond these modes and imperishable. This verse explains why most people don't recognize Krishna—they're deluded by the gunas. The gunas create illusion, making people see only the material surface and miss the spiritual reality. This connects to verse 7.12's teaching about the gunas and begins the section on delusion (7.13-7.19).
Explore Human Experiences
How this ancient wisdom applies to your daily life
Key Takeaway
You see the world, experience life, but something feels missing. You think: 'Is there something deeper I'm not seeing? Why do I feel deluded, confused, stuck?' This verse addresses that experience. Krishna says: deluded by the three gunas, the entire world does not know Me. The gunas create illusion—they make you see only the material surface and miss the spiritual reality. Understanding this is the first step: you're deluded, but you can overcome the delusion by recognizing it.
Personal Reflection
Do you feel deluded by the gunas—goodness, passion, ignorance? Do you see only the material surface and miss the spiritual reality? What patterns of delusion do you recognize in yourself—goodness (attachment to clarity), passion (driven by activity), or ignorance (confusion and inertia)?
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