Question 1
What does Krishna say the three gunas do in verse 14.5? A Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas arise from Prakriti and bind the imperishable soul in the body. B They belong to the pure Self and prove that the soul itself is changing. C They affect only the body, never the mind or conduct. D They are three paths of liberation that do not bind the seeker.
The gunas are forces of nature, not the pure Self. They bind when the soul identifies with their movements in body and mind.
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Question 2
How does Krishna compare the binding power of Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas in verses 14.6-14.9? A Sattva binds through attachment to happiness and knowledge, Rajas through desire-driven action, and Tamas through negligence, laziness, sleep, and obscured wisdom. B Sattva binds through anger, Rajas through sleep, and Tamas through attachment to knowledge. C Sattva alone frees immediately, while Rajas and Tamas are the only binding qualities. D All three bind in exactly the same way, so their differences do not matter.
Krishna is precise: even bright Sattva can bind subtly, Rajas binds through restless attachment to results, and Tamas binds by covering judgment.
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Question 3
What does verse 14.10 teach about the relationship among the three gunas? A They compete for dominance: sometimes Sattva prevails, sometimes Rajas, and sometimes Tamas. B Once one guna appears, it permanently removes the other two. C Only Tamas changes; Sattva and Rajas remain fixed. D The gunas operate only after death, not in daily states of mind.
Krishna describes the mind as dynamic. The gunas rise and fall, so a seeker must learn to recognize which quality is currently leading.
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Question 4
Which signs reveal the dominance of Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas in verses 14.11-14.13? A Sattva shows as light and knowledge, Rajas as greed, restlessness, and undertaking action, and Tamas as darkness, inactivity, negligence, and delusion. B Sattva shows as greed, Rajas as dullness, and Tamas as bright understanding. C Sattva is recognized by sleep, while Rajas and Tamas are recognized by peaceful knowledge. D The gunas have no visible signs in conduct or inner state.
These verses are diagnostic. Krishna gives observable signs so the learner can identify the active quality in thought, body, and behavior.
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Question 5
What destinations are linked with the gunas in verses 14.14-14.15? A One dying in Sattva reaches pure realms, in Rajas is reborn among those attached to action, and in Tamas enters ignorant states. B One dying in any guna reaches the same state because the gunas affect only daily moods. C Rajas leads beyond rebirth, while Sattva and Tamas both lead downward. D Tamas leads to the pure realms because sleep is closest to peace.
Krishna connects inner quality with future direction. The dominant guna shapes the tendency of consciousness beyond the present life.
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Question 6
How do verses 14.16-14.17 describe the fruits produced by the gunas? A Sattva produces pure fruit and Gyan, Rajas produces pain and greed, and Tamas produces ignorance, negligence, and delusion. B Sattva produces greed, Rajas produces wisdom, and Tamas produces pure action. C All gunas produce the same fruit when actions are sincere. D Tamas produces wisdom because it blocks distracting activity.
The results match the quality. Clarity yields clean fruit and wisdom, passion yields friction and greed, and darkness deepens ignorance.
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Question 7
What final directional pattern does Krishna give in verse 14.18? A Those established in Sattva rise upward, those in Rajas remain in the middle, and those in Tamas sink downward. B Those in Rajas rise highest because action is always superior to clarity. C Those in Tamas remain in the middle because ignorance is neutral. D All three gunas lead upward if one is attached to them strongly enough.
The section closes with a map of direction. Sattva elevates, Rajas keeps one in restless middle movement, and Tamas lowers consciousness.
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Question 8
Which summary best captures shlokas 14.5-14.18? A Krishna explains that Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas bind the soul in distinct ways, compete for dominance, reveal themselves through clear signs, and produce different fruits, rebirths, and upward, middle, or downward tendencies. B Krishna teaches that Sattva alone binds, while Rajas and Tamas are harmless moods. C Krishna says the gunas cannot be recognized in daily life and matter only after death. D Krishna describes the gunas as three equally liberating forms of devotion.
This section gives the working model of the gunas: how they bind, how to recognize them, and where each one tends to carry consciousness.
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