Krishna says, "When a wise person perceives that there is no agent of action other than the three 𝙜𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙨 (modes of nature), and realises 'that' which is higher than the 𝙜𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙨 , he attains My being (14.19). By transcending the three 𝙜𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙨 (𝙜𝙪𝙣𝙖-𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙝) , one (𝙙𝙚𝙝𝙞) is released from birth, death, old age and misery; and attains immortality" (14.20). Essentially, the three 𝙜𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙨 are the agents of action or real 𝙠𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙖 (doer).

One way to understand death is as the separation of the 𝙖𝙩𝙢𝙖 from the physical body when the body can't sustain automaticity for numerous reasons. Subsequently, the immortal 𝙖𝙩𝙢𝙖 goes to another body and the cycle continues. This leads to the belief that inexplicable bad phases of our life are a result of the bad 𝙠𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙖 , sins or curses of previous lives and good phases are noble deeds (𝙥𝙪𝙣𝙮𝙖𝙨) of previous lives. Spiritual texts are also interpreted accordingly.

The second type of death is the separation of 𝙖𝙩𝙢𝙖 from the physical body while the body is still capable and functional. This is called 𝙢𝙤𝙠𝙨𝙝𝙖 (ultimate freedom) or enlightenment. This is the state where 𝙜𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙨 no longer have the ability to bind the 𝙖𝙩𝙢𝙖 to the physical body. Krishna describes this state as transcending 𝙜𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙨 and says such people attain HIS being. They are free from misery and are immortal.

These verses clarify that no 𝙜𝙪𝙣𝙖 is inferior or superior. They are modes of nature with different characteristics but all of them bind 𝙖𝙩𝙢𝙖 with the body. The essence is to transcend all of the 𝙜𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙨 as being 𝙜𝙪𝙣𝙖-𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙝 is being healthy, while being under the influence of any 𝙜𝙪𝙣𝙖 is like suffering from a disease. Another inference is that one can transcend from any 𝙜𝙪𝙣𝙖 to the state of 𝙜𝙪𝙣𝙖-𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙝. There is no hierarchy amongst the 𝙜𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙨 hence there is no need for us to follow a sequence.