ऊर्ध्वं गच्छन्ति सत्त्वस्था मध्ये तिष्ठन्ति राजसाः।
जघन्यगुणवृत्तिस्था अधो गच्छन्ति तामसाः।।14.18।।
।।14.18।।सत्त्वगुणमें स्थित मनुष्य ऊर्ध्वलोकोंमें जाते हैं रजोगुणमें स्थित मनुष्य मृत्युलोकमें जन्म लेते हैं और निन्दनीय तमोगुणकी वृत्तिमें स्थित मनुष्य अधोगतिमें जाते हैं।
Now Lord Krishna explains the various destinations of those situated in the three gunas or modes of material nature. Those who are predominantly in sattva guna or the mode of goodness ascend and can obtain according to the degree of excellence birth in the human worlds, the worlds of the Gandharvas who are the celestial singers and musicians. The worlds of the anscestors, the worlds of the demigods on up unto Satyaloka the world of Brahma which is the highest material realm. In the preceding examples the happiness that is experienced in each succeeding sphere is 100 times more potent than the preceding worlds. Those who are predominantly in raja guna or mode of passion, being overwhelmed by desires and attachment are only born again in the worlds of humans. Those who are predominantly in the darkness of tama guna or the mode of ignorance descend into lower existences taking birth according to the sinful deeds they committed in one of the 28 fiery hellish planets such as Tamisra reserved for those who steal anothers wealth and property or Rauvara the planet reserved for those who killed, sold, cooked or ate the flesh of animals.
Now Lord Krishna reveals that those who are situated in sattva guna or the mode of goodness ascend upward in spiritual devlopement and eventually achieve moksa or liberation from material existence. Those who are situated in raja guna or the mode of passion have the desire for rewards for thecause of actions engage in activities that give them the results they wish to exploit and enjoy. Maintaining this mentality they engage fully in such fruitive activities life after life and are born again and again to engage in more and more works. Hence since it insures a constant reoccurrence of material births it is full of misery. Those who are situated in tama guna or the mode of ignorance are engaged in degenerative behaivior and descend downwards doing more and more despicable inhuman activities. Such beings development is in retrograde and after becoming the lowest types of humanity such as cannibals and perverts of beastiality they sink into the animal species themselves. After that due to the reactions from their heinious activitie they become worms and maggots and then they even descend into the lowest of plants to become stationary creepers and fungus.So Lord Krishna has revealed how the jiva or embodied being rises in evolution and how it descends. All those who adopt and maintain a strict vegetarian diet as detailed in chapter 6, verse 17 and chapter 17 verse 8 and who perform activities as a matter of duty without impetus for rewards gradually become fully situated in sattva guna and eventually ascend performing all activities for the satifaction for the Supreme Lord.
Now Lord Krishna reveals that those who are situated in sattva guna or the mode of goodness ascend upward in spiritual devlopement and eventually achieve moksa or liberation from material existence. Those who are situated in raja guna or the mode of passion have the desire for rewards for thecause of actions engage in activities that give them the results they wish to exploit and enjoy. Maintaining this mentality they engage fully in such fruitive activities life after life and are born again and again to engage in more and more works. Hence since it insures a constant reoccurrence of material births it is full of misery. Those who are situated in tama guna or the mode of ignorance are engaged in degenerative behaivior and descend downwards doing more and more despicable inhuman activities. Such beings development is in retrograde and after becoming the lowest types of humanity such as cannibals and perverts of beastiality they sink into the animal species themselves. After that due to the reactions from their heinious activitie they become worms and maggots and then they even descend into the lowest of plants to become stationary creepers and fungus.So Lord Krishna has revealed how the jiva or embodied being rises in evolution and how it descends. All those who adopt and maintain a strict vegetarian diet as detailed in chapter 6, verse 17 and chapter 17 verse 8 and who perform activities as a matter of duty without impetus for rewards gradually become fully situated in sattva guna and eventually ascend performing all activities for the satifaction for the Supreme Lord.
