4

The Roads of the Foolish
and the Wise

Krsna is thus explaining Himself as He is. Yet we
are not attracted to Him. Why is this? The reason is
given by Krsna Himself:

daivi hy esa gunamayt
mama maya duratyaya

mam eva ye prapadyante
mayam etam taranti te

“This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three
modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome.
But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily
cross beyond it.” (Bg. 7.14)

The material world is pervaded by the three
qualities of material nature. All living entities are
influenced by these qualities. If they are primarily
influenced by the mode of goodness, they are called
brahmanas, and if they are influenced by the mode
of passion, they are called ksatriyas. If they are in-
fluenced by the modes of passion and ignorance,
they are vaisyas, and if they are influenced by igno-
rance, they are sidras. This is not an artificial impo-
sition due to birth or social status but is according to
guna, or the mode of nature under which one is
operating.

catur-varnyam maya srstam
guna-karma-vibhagasah
