Verse 18.40
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
न तदस्ति पृथिव्यां वा दिवि देवेषु वा पुनः | सत्त्वं प्रकृतिजैर्मुक्तं यदेभिः स्यात्त्रिभिर्गुणैः ||४०||
Transliteration (IAST)
na tad asti pṛthivyāṁ vā divi deveṣu vā punaḥ | sattvaṁ prakṛtijair muktaṁ yad ebhiḥ syāt tribhir guṇaiḥ ||40||
Word-by-Word Meanings
Translation
There is no being on earth, or in heaven among the gods, that is free from these three gunas born of prakriti (material nature).
Commentary
Krishna concludes the guna analysis with a universal statement: all embodied beings without exception are under the influence of the three gunas. Shankaracharya explains this establishes the absolute universality of prakriti's influence - even celestial beings (devas) are not exempt. Ramanuja notes this verse serves as a transition, implying that transcending the gunas requires divine grace, which Krishna will discuss in the subsequent verses on svadharma and surrender.