Bhagavad Gītā Chapter Fourteen Title
गुण त्रय विभाग योग:
guṇa traya vibhāga yogaḥ
The Yoga of the Distinction of the Three Qualities.
guṇa - an ingredient or constituent or attribute of nature; a property or characteristic of all created things; qualities; a quality, peculiarity, attribute or property; the peculiar properties of the letterstraya - the three, triple, threefold, consisting of 3, of 3 kindsvibhāga - distinctionyoga - the act of yoking, joining, attaching, harnessing; a yoke, team, vehicle, conveyance; employment, use, application, performance; a means, expedient, device, way, manner, methodCommentaries and Reflections
Commentary by TKV Desikachar:
“The last six chapters present the
three fundamental entities:
Prakṛti, Puruṣa and Īśvara.
What is most vital to a person
for everlasting happiness is to
understand the nature of consciousness
and the Lord and his creation.”
– TKV Desikachar on Gītārtha Saṃgraha of Śrī Yāmunācārya Śloka Four
(Yāmunācārya overview of the Bhagavad Gītā Chapters Thirteen to Eighteen)
“Its the combination (of Guṇa) thats important.
There is the simile of the oil lamp in the Sāṃkhya Kārikā Śloka 13.
The cotton wick – Light Property (Sattva)
The basin or bowl – Heavy Property (Tamas)
The oil – Flows this way or that (Rajas)
The moment you dip the cotton in the oil it takes on that property.
Thus the Guṇa work together to produce the flame.”
– TKV Desikachar Madras November 24th 1979 on Sāṃkhya and Yoga