SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:
SlOkam – Original
rajasi praLayam gathvA karmasangishu jAyathE |
thathA praleenas thamasi mUdayOnishu jAyathe ||
word-by-word meaning
rajasi (pravrudhdhE) – when rajO guNam is on the rise
praLayam gathvA – if the AthmA sheds its body
karma sangishu – in the clan of those who work to attain worldly benefits
jAyathE – is born;
thathA – similarly
thamasi (pravrudhdhE) – when thamO guNam is on the rise
praleena: – one who dies
mUda yOnishu – in ignorant species (such as animals, plants)
jAyathE – is born;
Simple Translation
If the AthmA sheds its body when rajO guNam is on the rise, it is born in the clan of those who work to attain worldly benefits; if one dies when thamO guNam is on the rise, he is born in ignorant species (such as animals, plants).
Rendering based on ALkoNdavilli gOvindhAchArya swAmy’s English translation of gIthA bhAshyam
‘Dying when Rajas is regnant, one is born
among those who are attached to works. Likewise, dying when Tamas is regnant, one is born in the wombs of the witless.’
If one breathes his last when Rajas holds sway, he comes to be born among those who perform works for the sake of reward. And having been so born, he will prevail on himself to launch on such works as would procure for him Svarga and similar material fruit.
Similarly, if one departs when under the influence of Tamas, he comes to be born in such wombs as those of dogs, swine etc., where he would be utterly incapacitated for the performance of such works as would lead to the acquisition of any of the usual ambitions of men (riches etc.,)
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