पुरुषः प्रकृतिस्थो हि भुङ्क्ते प्रकृतिजान्गुणान् । कारणं गुणसङ्गोऽस्य सदसद्योनिजन्मसु ॥
puruṣaḥ prakṛtistho hi bhuṅkte prakṛtijānguṇān | kāraṇaṃ guṇasaṅgo'sya sadasadyonijanmasu ||
Translation
The Purusha, seated in Prakriti, experiences the gunas born of Prakriti. Attachment to the gunas is the cause of its births in good and evil wombs.
Interpretation
The mechanism of bondage: purusha prakritistho (the Purusha abiding in Prakriti — the Self apparently located within matter, within the body-mind) experiences the gunas born of Prakriti. And the cause of rebirth: guna-sanga (attachment to the gunas). When the Purusha identifies with and attaches to the gunas — clinging to sattvic pleasure, rajasic excitement, or tamasic comfort — it is drawn back into birth. The attachment creates the karma that necessitates rebirth. Liberation is the Purusha's recognition that it is the witness, not the participant.