Illustration for Bhagavad Gita chapter 18 verse 40
Chapter 18 · Moksha Sanyasa Yoga

No One Is Exempt · The Universal Work of Self-Understanding

न तदस्ति पृथिव्यां वा दिवि देवेषु वा पुनः । सत्त्वं प्रकृतिजैर्मुक्तं यदेभिः स्यात्त्रिभिर्गुणैः ॥

na tad asti pṛthivyāṁ vā divi deveṣu vā punaḥ sattvaṁ prakṛti-jair muktaṁ yad ebhiḥ syāt tribhir guṇaiḥ

Meaning

"There is no being on earth, or even among the gods in heaven, that is free from these three gunas born of nature."

Explanation

Even the highest beings are still subject to these underlying patterns — a humbling and oddly comforting thought, since it means no one is exempt from the work of self-understanding.

Today's Life Lesson

Take comfort today that everyone, however accomplished, is still working with the same basic inner tendencies as you.

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