Devanagari
जाग्रत् स्वप्न: सुषुप्तं च गुणतो बुद्धिवृत्तय: ।
तासां विलक्षणो जीव: साक्षित्वेन विनिश्चित: ॥ २७ ॥
Verse text
jāgrat svapnaḥ suṣuptaṁ ca
guṇato buddhi-vṛttayaḥ
tāsāṁ vilakṣaṇo jīvaḥ
sākṣitvena viniścitaḥ
Synonyms
jāgrat
—
being awake
;
svapnaḥ
—
dreaming
;
su
—
suptam — deep sleep
;
ca
—
also
;
guṇataḥ
—
caused by the modes of nature
;
buddhi
—
of intelligence
;
vṛttayaḥ
—
the functions
;
tāsām
—
from such functions
;
vilakṣaṇaḥ
—
possessing different characteristics
;
jīvaḥ
—
the living entity
;
sākṣitvena
—
with the characteristic of being a witness
;
viniścitaḥ
—
is ascertained .
Translation
Waking, sleeping and deep sleep are the three functions of the intelligence and are caused by the modes of material nature. The living entity within the body is ascertained to possess characteristics different from these three states and thus remains as a witness to them.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Waking, sleeping and deep sleep, the three functions of the intelligence, are caused by the three guṇas. The jīva is ascertained to be different from these three states since it is only the witness of them.
Actually there is no relation of the pure jīva with the sense objects and material consciousness. Giving up the false identity is giving them both up.
sattvāj jāgaraṇaṁ vidyād rajasā svapnam ādiśet
prasvāpaṁ tamasā jantos turīyaṁ triṣu santatam
One should know that wakefulness is born of the mode of goodness, dreams from the mode of passion, and deep dreamless sleep from the mode of ignorance. The fourth element, pure consciousness, is different from these three and pervades them. SB 11.25.20
Thus the guṇas are the cause of the three states of intelligence or consciousness. The jīva is different from them. It is without these three states. Why? It is confirmed that it is the mere witness of those states.
Purport
The spirit soul actually has nothing to do with the material world, having no permanent or natural relationship with it. Real renunciation means to give up the illusory identification with matter in its subtle and gross forms.
Suṣuptam,
or deep sleep, indicates sleeping without any dreams or conscious activity. These three states are described by Lord Kṛṣṇa as follows:
sattvāj jāgaraṇaṁ vidyād
rajasā svapnam ādiśet
prasvāpaṁ tamasā jantos
turīyaṁ triṣu santatam
“One should know that wakefulness is born of the mode of goodness, dreams from the mode of passion, and deep dreamless sleep from the mode of ignorance. The fourth element, pure consciousness, is different from these three and pervades them.” (
Bhāg.
11.25.20
) Real freedom means
sākṣitvena,
or to exist as a witness to the functions of illusion. Such an advantageous position is achieved by development of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.