Bhagavad Gita 14.15
Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga · English Translation
Sanskrit
रजसि प्रलयं गत्वा कर्मसङ्गिषु जायते | तथा प्रलीनस्तमसि मूढयोनिषु जायते ||१४-१५||
Transliteration
rajasi pralayaṃ gatvā karmasaṅgiṣu jāyate . tathā pralīnastamasi mūḍhayoniṣu jāyate ||14-15||
Meeting death in Rajas, he is born among those who are attached to action; and dying in Tamas, he is born in the womb of the senseless.
Word by Word
रजसि in Rajas, प्रलयम् death, गत्वा meeting, कर्मसङ्गिषु among those attached to action, जायते (he) is born, तथा so, प्रलीनः dying, तमसि in inertia, मूढयोनिषु in the wombs of the senseless, जायते (he) is born
Classical Commentary
Meeting with death in Rajas If he dies when Rajas is predominant in him, he is born among men who are attached to action. If he dies when Tamas is fully predominant in him, he takes birth in ignorant species such as cattle, birds, beasts or insects. He may take his birth amongst the dull and the stupid or the lowest grades of human beings. He need not take the body of an animal. This is the view of some persons.