Chapter 14: Guṇa-traya-vibhāga-yoga: – Understanding and Transcending the Three Qualities of NatureVerse 10
रजस्तमश्चाभिभूय सत्त्वं भवति भारत ।
रज: सत्त्वं तमश्चैव तम: सत्त्वं रजस्तथा ॥
rajas-tamaś-cābhibhūya
sattvaṃ bhavati bhārata
raja: sattvaṃ tamaścaiva
tama: sattvaṃ rajas-tathā – 14.10
O Bhārata, (sometimes) sattva prevails dominating over rajas and tamas; (sometimes) rajas rules over sattva and tamas; (and again) tamas overwhelms sattva and rajas.
Chapter 14: Guṇa-traya-vibhāga-yoga: – Understanding and Transcending the Three Qualities of Nature - Verse 10
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
In every one, all the three guṇas are there. But their proportions will be different, and they will vary with time. Our intention is to enhance sattva, giving it the leading position, and to that extent reduce rajas and tamas. But presence and participation of all the three are indispensable.
Given the right persuasion and effort, each guṇa has the potential to enhance its measure, overwhelming the other two. Thus sattva can be predominant, making rajas and tamas subservient.
The same way, rajo-guṇa can overwhelm tamas and sattva, and tamo-guṇa can dominate rajas and sattva. In fact, Nature preserves four distinct groups of tendencies in this manner. Krishna has already defined (4.13) these four categories, which enable the society to be cohesive and efficient, each complementing the rest.
For a spiritual seeker, sattva-guṇa should be on the ascendance. That alone will enrich the individual and society alike.
