sarva-dvāreṣu dehe ’smin
prakāśa upajāyate
jñānaḿ yadā tadā vidyād
vivṛddhaḿ sattvam ity uta
Translation of Bhagavad Gita 14.11
The manifestations of the mode of goodness can be experienced when all the gates of the body are illuminated by knowledge.
Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
There are nine gates in the body: two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, the mouth, the genitals and the anus. When every gate is illuminated by the symptoms of goodness, it should be understood that one has developed the mode of goodness.
In the mode of goodness, one can see things in the right position, one can hear things in the right position, and one can taste things in the right position. One becomes cleansed inside and outside. In every gate there is development of the symptoms of happiness, and that is the position of goodness.
Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
It has been stated that the prominent guna overshadows the other two gunas, which have become weak of their own accord. Now the Lord speaks of the qualities of increasing gunas in three verses. When illumination or knowledge, real awareness of things through the sound of the Vedas, appears in all the doors such as the ears, one should understand there is an increase in sattva through such symptoms of knowledge. The word uta (also) indicates there will also be an appearance of happiness arising from the soul. When knowledge and happiness appear,. one should understand there is an increase in sattva.
Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:
14.11 When the light of knowledge shines revealing the truth of things emerging through all the gateways of knowledge such as the eyes etc., in the body, one should know that Sattva is prevailing.
Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:
Now Lord Krishna delineates the developed characteristics of sattva guna or mode of goodness by explaining that when the five sense s no longer exercise there search for sense gratification but instead focus their attention to the experiencing the atma or immortal soul; then the light of knowledge radiates througfh them and by this manifestation it can be ascertained that sattva guna is predominant within a jiva or embodied being. Also by the signs of happiness and effulgence.
Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:
Sri Madhvacharya did not comment on this sloka.
Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:
One can recognise the presence of the three gunas or modes of material nature by their productive effects. Lord Krishna states that when the gates of the physical body which are the senses such as the eyes and ears, etc. by which one perceives light and sound achieve a sense of dispassion and discerment then arise s the light of true perception and it symbolises that sattva guna or the mode of goodness is predominant based on its feeling of well being and happiness.
Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:
14.11 Yada, when; prakasah, the illumination-prakasa, illumination, is a function of the internal organ, intelligence; that itself is jnanam, knowledge; when this illumination called knowledge upajayate, radiates; asmin, in this; dehe, body; sarva-dvaresu, through all the doors-all the sense organs, (viz) ear etc., are the Self’s doors of perception; through all those doors; tada, then; through this indication, viz the illumination that is knowledge, vidyat, one should know; iti, that; sattva has vivrddham, increased; uta, greatly [See A.G.-Tr.]. This is the characteristics of rajas when it has become prominent:
Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:
14.11-13 Sarva-etc. upto kurunandana. In all the gates : in all the sense-organs. Greed etc., are born in succession when the Rajas dominates. Similarly, absence of mental illumination and so on arise in succession only at the time of the increase of the Tamas.
Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:
sarva-dvaresu dehe ’smin
prakasa upajayate
jñanam yada tada vidyad
vivrddham sattvam ity uta
Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:
sarva-dvāreṣu — in all the gates; dehe asmin — in this body; prakāśaḥ — the quality of illumination; upajāyate — develops; jñānam — knowledge; yadā — when; tadā — at that time; vidyāt — know; vivṛddham — increased; sattvam — the mode of goodness; iti uta — thus it is said.
