Word meanings
- rajasi
- in the mode of passion
- pralayam
- death
- gatvā
- attaining
- karma-saṅgiṣu
- among people driven by work
- jāyate
- are born
- tathā
- likewise
- pralīnaḥ
- dying
- tamasi
- in the mode of ignorance
- mūḍha-yoniṣu
- in the animal kingdom
- jāyate
- takes birth
Translations
Meeting death in Rajas, he is born among those who are attached to action; and dying in Tamas, he is born in the womb of the thoughtless.
When passion prevails, the soul is reborn among those who love activity; when ignorance rules, it enters the wombs of the ignorant.
When one dies while rajas predominates, they are born among people attached to activity. Similarly, when one dies while tamas predominates, they take birth among the stupid species.
रजोगुणके बढ़नेपर मरनेवाला प्राणी मनुष्ययोनिमें जन्म लेता है तथा तमोगुणके बढ़नेपर मरनेवाला मूढ़योनियोंमें जन्म लेता है।Commentary
Meeting with death in Rajas If he dies when Rajas is predominant in him, he is born among men who are attached to action. If he dies when Tamas is fully predominant in him, he takes birth in ignorant species such as cattle, birds, beasts or insects. He may take his birth amongst the dull and the stupid or the lowest grades of human beings. He need not take the body of an animal. This is the view of some persons.