सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणाः प्रकृतिसम्भवाः । निबध्नन्ति महाबाहो देहे देहिनमव्ययम् ॥ ५ ॥
sattvaṁ rajas tama iti guṇāḥ prakṛiti-sambhavāḥ nibadhnanti mahā-bāho dehe dehinam avyayam
Translation
Sattva, rajas and tamas: these gunas born of prakriti bind the imperishable embodied soul to the body, O mighty-armed one.
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
हे महाबाहो! सत्त्व, रज और तम, ये प्रकृति से उत्पन्न तीनों गुण अविनाशी देही (आत्मा) को देह में बाँधते हैं।
Commentary
The three gunas are named for the first time in this chapter. Guna means "quality" but also "strand" or "rope." The pun is intended: the qualities of nature are the ropes that bind the soul. The soul is avyaya, "imperishable"; the binding is real but not permanent.