Devanagari
मनो गुणान् वै सृजते बलीय-
स्ततश्च कर्माणि विलक्षणानि ।
शुक्लानि कृष्णान्यथ लोहितानि
तेभ्य: सवर्णा: सृतयो भवन्ति ॥ ४३ ॥
Verse text
mano guṇān vai sṛjate balīyas
tataś ca karmāṇi vilakṣaṇāni
śuklāni kṛṣṇāny atha lohitāni
tebhyaḥ sa-varṇāḥ sṛtayo bhavanti
Synonyms
manaḥ
—
the mind
;
guṇān
—
the activities of the modes of nature
;
vai
—
indeed
;
sṛjate
—
manifests
;
balīyaḥ
—
very strong
;
tataḥ
—
by those qualities
;
ca
—
and
;
karmāṇi
—
material activities
;
vilakṣaṇāni
—
of different varieties
;
śuklāni
—
white (in the mode of goodness)
;
kṛṣṇāni
—
black (in the mode of ignorance)
;
atha
—
and
;
lohitāni
—
red (in the mode of passion)
;
tebhyaḥ
—
from those activities
;
sa
—
varṇāḥ — having the same corresponding colors
;
sṛtayaḥ
—
created conditions
;
bhavanti
—
arise .
Translation
The powerful mind actuates the functions of the material modes, from which evolve the different kinds of material activities in the modes of goodness, ignorance and passion. From the activities in each of these modes develop the corresponding statuses of life.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
The powerful mind creates qualities in objects, from which a person becomes inspired to act in sattva, tamas and rajas. Various types of bodies arise from the activities in each of these modes.
This verse explains how the jīva wanders. The mind creates good qualities in objects like women and gold though they are full of bad qualities. How can I practice dharma without money? How can I obtain enjoyment of garlands, sandalwood and women? How can I be happy without them? Therefore I must earn money. Though there are faults in earning money, the mind makes the person perform the activities. The mind is strong. It does not accept the discrimination of others or oneself which concludes that wealth and family create great obstacles. The actions instigated by the mind are of great variety in sattva, tamas or rajas, not of one type. Those in sattva lead to dharma. Those in tamas lead to hell. Those in rajas lead to dharma and adharma. Gradually these produce bodies of devatās, animals and men.
Purport
In the mode of goodness one considers oneself to be a saintly or wise person, in the mode of passion one struggles for material success, and in the mode of ignorance one becomes cruel, lazy and sinful. By the combination of the material modes one identifies oneself as a demigod, a king, a rich capitalist, a wise scholar, etc. These conceptions are material designations generated from the modes of nature, and they arrange themselves according to the tendency of the powerful mind to enjoy temporary sense gratification. The word
balīyas
in this verse, meaning “very strong,” indicates that the material mind becomes insensitive to intelligent advice. Even if we are informed that we are committing many sins and offenses in order to earn money, we may still think that money should be acquired at all costs, since without it one can neither perform religious ceremonies nor gratify the senses with beautiful women, mansions and vehicles. Once the money is achieved, one suffers further problems, but the stubborn mind will never heed good advice in this regard. One must therefore give up mental concoction and control the mind in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, as exemplified here by the
brāhmaṇa
from Avantī.