Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 11 — Chapter 25

SB 11 25.1

श्री-भगवान् उवाच गुणानाम् असम्मिश्राणां पुमान् येन यथा भवेत् तन् मे पुरुष-वर्येदम् उपधारय शंसतः

śrī-bhagavān uvāca guṇānām asammiśrāṇāṃ pumān yena yathā bhavet tan me puruṣa-varyedam upadhāraya śaṃsataḥ

The Blessed Lord said: Understand from me, best of men, as I set it forth, by what means and in what way a person comes to be (dominated) by the guṇas when they are unmixed.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.2

शमो दमस् तितिक्षेक्षा तपः सत्यं दया स्मृतिः तुष्टिस् त्यागो ऽस्पृहा श्रद्धा ह्रीर् दयादिः स्व-निर्वृतिः

śamo damas titikṣekṣā tapaḥ satyaṃ dayā smṛtiḥ tuṣṭis tyāgo 'spṛhā śraddhā hrīr dayādiḥ sva-nirvṛtiḥ

Calm, self-control, endurance, discernment, austerity, truthfulness, compassion, mindfulness, contentment, renunciation, absence of craving, faith, modesty, and (such) beginning with compassion—(these constitute) satisfaction in oneself.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

SB 11 25.3

काम ईहा मदस् तृष्णा स्तम्भ आशीर् भिदा सुखम् मदोत्साहो यशः-प्रीतिर् हास्यं वीर्यं बलोद्यमः

kāma īhā madas tṛṣṇā stambha āśīr bhidā sukham madotsāho yaśaḥ-prītir hāsyaṃ vīryaṃ balodyamaḥ

Desire, striving, intoxicated pride, craving, arrogance, petitioning for gain, seeing things as separate, pleasure, exuberance born of pride, delight in fame, laughter, prowess, and forceful exertion (are the functions of rajas).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.4

क्रोधो लोभो ऽनृतं हिंसा याच्ञा दम्भः क्लमः कलिः शोक-मोहौ विषादार्ती निद्राशा भीर् अनुद्यमः

krodho lobho 'nṛtaṃ hiṃsā yācñā dambhaḥ klamaḥ kaliḥ śoka-mohau viṣādārtī nidrāśā bhīr anudyamaḥ

Anger, greed, falsehood, violence, begging, hypocrisy, exhaustion, quarrel, grief, delusion, despondency, distress, sleep, expectation, fear, and lack of effort (are the functions of tamas).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.5

सत्त्वस्य रजसश् चैतास् तमसश् चानुपूर्वशः वृत्तयो वर्णित-प्रायाः सन्निपातम् अथो शृणु

sattvasya rajasaś caitās tamasaś cānupūrvaśaḥ vṛttayo varṇita-prāyāḥ sannipātam atho śṛṇu

These, in due order, are the functions of sattva, of rajas, and of tamas, described for the most part; now hear about their combination.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.6

सन्निपातस् त्व् अहम् इति ममेत्य् उद्धव या मतिः व्यवहारः सन्निपातो मनो-मात्रेन्द्रियासुभिः

sannipātas tv aham iti mamety uddhava yā matiḥ vyavahāraḥ sannipāto mano-mātrendriyāsubhiḥ

But the combination, Uddhava, is that notion of "I" and "mine"; the transaction carried on by mind, the subtle elements, the senses and the vital airs is the combination.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.7

धर्मे चार्थे च कामे च यदासौ परिनिष्ठितः गुणानां सन्निकर्षो ऽयं श्रद्धा-रति-धनावहः

dharme cārthe ca kāme ca yadāsau pariniṣṭhitaḥ guṇānāṃ sannikarṣo 'yaṃ śraddhā-rati-dhanāvahaḥ

When a person is fully established in dharma, in wealth, and in enjoyment, this is the conjunction of the guṇas, which brings faith, attachment, and prosperity.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.8

प्रवृत्ति-लक्षणे निष्ठा पुमान् यर्हि गृहाश्रमे स्व-धर्मे चानु तिष्ठेत गुणानां समितिर् हि सा

pravṛtti-lakṣaṇe niṣṭhā pumān yarhi gṛhāśrame sva-dharme cānu tiṣṭheta guṇānāṃ samitir hi sā

When a man is fixed in the path marked by activity, in household life, and carries out his own duty, that indeed is the coming-together of the guṇas.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.9

पुरुषं सत्त्व-संयुक्तम् अनुमीयाच् छमादिभिः कामादिभी रजो-युक्तं क्रोधाद्यैस् तमसा युतम्

puruṣaṃ sattva-saṃyuktam anumīyāc chamādibhiḥ kāmādibhī rajo-yuktaṃ krodhādyais tamasā yutam

One should infer that a person is joined with sattva by (his) tranquillity and the rest, joined with rajas by desire and the rest, and united with tamas by anger and the like.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.10

यदा भजति मां भक्त्या निरपेक्षः स्व-कर्मभिः तं सत्त्व-प्रकृतिं विद्यात् पुरुषं स्त्रियम् एव वा

yadā bhajati māṃ bhaktyā nirapekṣaḥ sva-karmabhiḥ taṃ sattva-prakṛtiṃ vidyāt puruṣaṃ striyam eva vā

When one worships me with devotion through one's own works, without expectation, one should know that person—whether man or woman—to be of sattva nature.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.11

यदा आशिष आशास्य मां भजेत स्व-कर्मभिः तं रजः-प्रकृतिं विद्यात् हिंसाम् आशास्य तामसम्

yadā āśiṣa āśāsya māṃ bhajeta sva-karmabhiḥ taṃ rajaḥ-prakṛtiṃ vidyāt hiṃsām āśāsya tāmasam

When one worships me by one's own works while praying for benefits, one should know that one to be of rajas nature; and one who prays for the harm (of another) to be of tamas.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.12

सत्त्वं रजस् तम इति गुणा जीवस्य नैव मे चित्त-जा यैस् तु भूतानां सज्जमानो निबध्यते

sattvaṃ rajas tama iti guṇā jīvasya naiva me citta-jā yais tu bhūtānāṃ sajjamāno nibadhyate

Sattva, rajas, and tamas—these guṇas belong to the living being, not at all to me; they are born of the mind, and by them, becoming attached, (the living being) among creatures is bound.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.13

यदेतरौ जयेत् सत्त्वं भास्वरं विशदं शिवम् तदा सुखेन युज्येत धर्म-ज्ञानादिभिः पुमान्

yadetarau jayet sattvaṃ bhāsvaraṃ viśadaṃ śivam tadā sukhena yujyeta dharma-jñānādibhiḥ pumān

When sattva, which is luminous, clear, and auspicious, conquers the other two, then the man becomes endowed with happiness, with dharma, knowledge, and the rest.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.14

यदा जयेत् तमः सत्त्वं रजः सङ्गं भिदा चलम् तदा दुःखेन युज्येत कर्मणा यशसा श्रिया

yadā jayet tamaḥ sattvaṃ rajaḥ saṅgaṃ bhidā calam tadā duḥkhena yujyeta karmaṇā yaśasā śriyā

When rajas—attachment, division, restlessness—conquers tamas and sattva, then he becomes endowed with suffering, with activity, fame, and prosperity.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.15

यदा जयेद् रजः सत्त्वं तमो मूढं लयं जडम् युज्येत शोक-मोहाभ्यां निद्रया हिंसयाशया

yadā jayed rajaḥ sattvaṃ tamo mūḍhaṃ layaṃ jaḍam yujyeta śoka-mohābhyāṃ nidrayā hiṃsayāśayā

When tamas—confused, collapsing, inert—conquers rajas and sattva, one becomes endowed with grief and delusion, with sleep, violence, and expectation.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.16

यदा चित्तं प्रसीदेत इन्द्रियाणां च निर्वृतिः देहे ऽभयं मनो-ऽसङ्गं तत् सत्त्वं विद्धि मत्-पदम्

yadā cittaṃ prasīdeta indriyāṇāṃ ca nirvṛtiḥ dehe 'bhayaṃ mano-'saṅgaṃ tat sattvaṃ viddhi mat-padam

When the mind becomes serene and there is quietude of the senses, fearlessness in the body and non-attachment of the mind—know that to be sattva, my abode.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.17

विकुर्वन् क्रियया चा-धीर् अनिवृत्तिश् च चेतसाम् गात्रास्वास्थ्यं मनो भ्रान्तं रज एतैर् निशामय

vikurvan kriyayā cā-dhīr anivṛttiś ca cetasām gātrāsvāsthyaṃ mano bhrāntaṃ raja etair niśāmaya

Being distorted by activity, an unsteady intellect, non-cessation of the senses, discomfort of the limbs, a wandering mind—recognise rajas by these.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

SB 11 25.18

सीदच् चित्तं विलीयेत चेतसो ग्रहणे ऽक्षमम् मनो नष्टं तमो ग्लानिस् तमस् तद् उपधारय

sīdac cittaṃ vilīyeta cetaso grahaṇe 'kṣamam mano naṣṭaṃ tamo glānis tamas tad upadhāraya

When the sinking mind dissolves away, incapable of grasping with the faculties, when the mind is lost, (there is) darkness and exhaustion—understand that to be tamas.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.19

एधमाने गुणे सत्त्वे देवानां बलम् एधते असुराणां च रजसि तमस्य् उद्धव रक्षसाम्

edhamāne guṇe sattve devānāṃ balam edhate asurāṇāṃ ca rajasi tamasy uddhava rakṣasām

When the guṇa sattva increases, the strength of the gods increases; when rajas (increases), that of the demons; and when tamas (increases), Uddhava, that of the rākṣasas.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.20

सत्त्वाज् जागरणं विद्याद् रजसा स्वप्नम् आदिशेत् प्रस्वापं तमसा जन्तोस् तुरीयं त्रिषु सन्ततम्

sattvāj jāgaraṇaṃ vidyād rajasā svapnam ādiśet prasvāpaṃ tamasā jantos turīyaṃ triṣu santatam

One should know waking to come from sattva, should assign dreaming to rajas, and deep sleep to tamas; the fourth (state) of a creature runs continuously through the three.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.21

उपर्य् उपरि गच्छन्ति सत्त्वेन ब्राह्मणा जनाः तमसाधो ऽध आ-मुख्याद् रजसान्तर-चारिणः

upary upari gacchanti sattvena brāhmaṇā janāḥ tamasādho 'dha ā-mukhyād rajasāntara-cāriṇaḥ

By sattva people go higher and higher (as) brāhmaṇas; by tamas, downward and downward, head-first; by rajas, they move in between.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

SB 11 25.22

सत्त्वे प्रलीनाः स्वर् यान्ति नर-लोकं रजो-लयाः तमो-लयास् तु निरयं यान्ति माम् एव निर्गुणाः

sattve pralīnāḥ svar yānti nara-lokaṃ rajo-layāḥ tamo-layās tu nirayaṃ yānti mām eva nirguṇāḥ

Those who pass away merged in sattva go to heaven; those dissolved in rajas, to the world of men; but those dissolved in tamas go to hell; and those free of the guṇas come to me alone.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.23

मद्-अर्पणं निष्फलं वा सात्त्विकं निज-कर्म तत् राजसं फल-सङ्कल्पं हिंसा-प्रायादि तामसम्

mad-arpaṇaṃ niṣphalaṃ vā sāttvikaṃ nija-karma tat rājasaṃ phala-saṅkalpaṃ hiṃsā-prāyādi tāmasam

Work of one's own that is offered to me, or done without seeking a result, is of the mode of goodness; that done with a resolve for its fruit is of passion; that consisting mainly of violence and the like is of darkness.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.24

कैवल्यं सात्त्विकं ज्ञानं रजो वैकल्पिकं च यत् प्राकृतं तामसं ज्ञानं मन्-निष्ठं निर्गुणं स्मृतम्

kaivalyaṃ sāttvikaṃ jñānaṃ rajo vaikalpikaṃ ca yat prākṛtaṃ tāmasaṃ jñānaṃ man-niṣṭhaṃ nirguṇaṃ smṛtam

Knowledge of the (one) self alone is of goodness; that which is differentiating is of passion; the knowledge that is merely material is of darkness; the knowledge fixed on me is called free of the modes.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.25

वनं तु सात्त्विको वासो ग्रामो राजस उच्यते तामसं द्यूत-सदनं मन्-निकेतं तु निर्गुणम्

vanaṃ tu sāttviko vāso grāmo rājasa ucyate tāmasaṃ dyūta-sadanaṃ man-niketaṃ tu nirguṇam

The forest is a dwelling of goodness, the village is called (a dwelling) of passion, the gambling-house is of darkness, but my abode is free of the modes.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.26

सात्त्विकः कारको ऽसङ्गी रागान्धो राजसः स्मृतः तामसः स्मृति-विभ्रष्टो निर्गुणो मद्-अपाश्रयः

sāttvikaḥ kārako 'saṅgī rāgāndho rājasaḥ smṛtaḥ tāmasaḥ smṛti-vibhraṣṭo nirguṇo mad-apāśrayaḥ

An agent who is unattached is of goodness; one blinded by craving is said to be of passion; one who has lost his memory is of darkness; but one who takes refuge in me is free of the modes.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.27

सात्त्विक्य् आध्यात्मिकी श्रद्धा कर्म-श्रद्धा तु राजसी तामस्य् अधर्मे या श्रद्धा मत्-सेवायां तु निर्गुणा

sāttviky ādhyātmikī śraddhā karma-śraddhā tu rājasī tāmasy adharme yā śraddhā mat-sevāyāṃ tu nirguṇā

Faith directed to the self is of goodness, faith in (ritual) action is of passion, the faith that is in what is contrary to dharma is of darkness, but faith in service to me is free of the modes.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.28

पथ्यं पूतम् अनायस्तम् आहार्यं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम् राजसं चेन्द्रिय-प्रेष्ठं तामसं चार्ति-दाशुचि

pathyaṃ pūtam anāyastam āhāryaṃ sāttvikaṃ smṛtam rājasaṃ cendriya-preṣṭhaṃ tāmasaṃ cārti-dāśuci

Food that is wholesome, pure and obtained without trouble is called of goodness; that which is dearest to the senses is of passion; and that which is painful and impure is of darkness.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.29

सात्त्विकं सुखम् आत्मोत्थं विषयोत्थं तु राजसम् तामसं मोह-दैन्योत्थं निर्गुणं मद्-अपाश्रयम्

sāttvikaṃ sukham ātmotthaṃ viṣayotthaṃ tu rājasam tāmasaṃ moha-dainyotthaṃ nirguṇaṃ mad-apāśrayam

Happiness arising from the self is of goodness, that arising from sense objects is of passion, that arising from delusion and wretchedness is of darkness, and that which rests on me is free of the modes.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.30

द्रव्यं देशः फलं कालो ज्ञानं कर्म च कारकः श्रद्धावस्थाकृतिर् निष्ठा त्रै-गुण्यः सर्व एव हि

dravyaṃ deśaḥ phalaṃ kālo jñānaṃ karma ca kārakaḥ śraddhāvasthākṛtir niṣṭhā trai-guṇyaḥ sarva eva hi

Substance, place, result, time, knowledge, action, agent, faith, condition, form, and fixed aim — all of these indeed consist of the three modes.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.31

सर्वे गुण-मया भावाः पुरुषाव्यक्त-धिष्ठिताः दृष्टं श्रुतं अनुध्यातं बुद्ध्या वा पुरुषर्षभ

sarve guṇa-mayā bhāvāḥ puruṣāvyakta-dhiṣṭhitāḥ dṛṣṭaṃ śrutaṃ anudhyātaṃ buddhyā vā puruṣarṣabha

All states of being are made of the modes and rest upon the person and the unmanifest — whatever is seen, heard, or thought over with the intellect, O best of men.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.32

एताः संसृतयः पुंसो गुण-कर्म-निबन्धनाः येनेमे निर्जिताः सौम्य गुणा जीवेन चित्त-जाः भक्ति-योगेन मन्-निष्ठो मद्-भावाय प्रपद्यते

etāḥ saṃsṛtayaḥ puṃso guṇa-karma-nibandhanāḥ yeneme nirjitāḥ saumya guṇā jīvena citta-jāḥ bhakti-yogena man-niṣṭho mad-bhāvāya prapadyate

These are the rounds of transmigration of a person, bound by the modes and by action. O gentle one, that living being by whom these modes born of the mind have been conquered through the yoga of devotion becomes fixed in me and attains to my own state.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.33

तस्माद् देहम् इमं लब्ध्वा ज्ञान-विज्ञान-सम्भवम् गुण-सङ्गं विनिर्धूय मां भजन्तु विचक्षणाः

tasmād deham imaṃ labdhvā jñāna-vijñāna-sambhavam guṇa-saṅgaṃ vinirdhūya māṃ bhajantu vicakṣaṇāḥ

Therefore, having obtained this body, which is the source of knowledge and discernment, let the discerning ones shake off attachment to the modes and worship me.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.34

निःसङ्गो मां भजेद् विद्वान् अप्रमत्तो जितेन्द्रियः रजस् तमश् चाभिजयेत् सत्त्व-संसेवया मुनिः

niḥsaṅgo māṃ bhajed vidvān apramatto jitendriyaḥ rajas tamaś cābhijayet sattva-saṃsevayā muniḥ

Unattached, alert, with senses subdued, the learned man should worship me; and the sage should conquer passion and darkness by cultivating goodness.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.35

सत्त्वं चाभिजयेद् युक्तो नैरपेक्ष्येण शान्त-धीः सम्पद्यते गुणैर् मुक्तो जीवो जीवं विहाय माम्

sattvaṃ cābhijayed yukto nairapekṣyeṇa śānta-dhīḥ sampadyate guṇair mukto jīvo jīvaṃ vihāya mām

And, disciplined and with a calmed mind, he should conquer goodness too by indifference; then the living being, released from the modes, abandoning the (individual) living condition, attains me.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SB 11 25.36

जीवो जीव-विनिर्मुक्तो गुणैश् चाशय-सम्भवैः मयैव ब्रह्मणा पूर्णो न बहिर् नान्तरश् चरेत्

jīvo jīva-vinirmukto guṇaiś cāśaya-sambhavaiḥ mayaiva brahmaṇā pūrṇo na bahir nāntaraś caret

The living being, wholly released from the (individual) living condition and from the modes that arise from the deposits of the mind, being full with me, Brahman, would move neither outward nor inward.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition