THE THREE QUALITIES----SATVA,RAJAS,TAMAS

SUBHASHITHAM : 036-1

त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा |
सात्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां शृणु || 2||

tri-vidhā bhavati śhraddhā dehināṁ sā svabhāva-jā
sāttvikī rājasī chaiva tāmasī cheti tāṁ śhṛiṇu

BG 17.2: The Supreme Divine Personality said: Every human being is born with innate faith, which can be of three kinds—sāttvic, rājasic, or tāmasic.

( Gunas = attributes,or forms of energy  )  they are : Satva- Harmony, rhythm, or purity  ; Rajas – Passion, activity , or motion ; Thamas - Inertia, Darkness , or stupidity

मुक्तसङ्गोऽनहंवादी धृत्युत्साहसमन्वित: |
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योर्निर्विकार: कर्ता सात्विक उच्यते || 26||  1.SATVIC NATURE

mukta-saṅgo ‘nahaṁ-vādī dhṛity-utsāha-samanvitaḥ
siddhy-asiddhyor nirvikāraḥ kartā sāttvika uchyate  BG 18.26:

The performer is said to be in the mode of goodness, when he  is free from egotism and attachment, endowed with firmness and confidence , and equipoised in success and failure.

रागी कर्मफलप्रेप्सुर्लुब्धो हिंसात्मकोऽशुचि: |
हर्षशोकान्वित: कर्ता राजस: परिकीर्तित: || 27 II     2.RAJASIC NATURE 

rāgī karma-phala-prepsur lubdho hinsātmako ‘śhuchiḥ
harṣha-śhokānvitaḥ kartā rājasaḥ parikīrtitaḥ

BG 18.27: The performer is considered in the mode of passion when he craves for  the fruits of the actions , is covetous, violent-natured, impure, and moved by joy and sorrow.

अयुक्त: प्राकृत: स्तब्ध: शठो नैष्कृतिकोऽलस: |
विषादी दीर्घसूत्री च कर्ता तामस उच्यते || 28||    3. THAMASIC NATURE 

ayuktaḥ prākṛitaḥ stabdhaḥ śhaṭho naiṣhkṛitiko ‘lasaḥ
viṣhādī dīrgha-sūtrī cha kartā tāmasa uchyate

BG 18.28: A performer in the mode of ignorance is one who is discordant, vulgar, stubborn, deceitful, slothful, despondent, and procrastinating.

सत्वात्सञ्जायते ज्ञानं रजसो लोभ एव च |
प्रमादमोहौ तमसो भवतोऽज्ञानमेव च || 17||

sattvāt sañjāyate jñānaṁ rajaso lobha eva cha
pramāda-mohau tamaso bhavato ’jñānam eva cha

BG 14.17: From the mode of goodness arises knowledge, from the mode of passion arises greed, and from the mode of ignorance arise negligence and delusion.

Now, Gita wants a sadhaka to go beyond the three attributes :

त्रैगुण्यविषया वेदा निस्त्रैगुण्यो भवार्जुन |
निर्द्वन्द्वो नित्यसत्वस्थो निर्योगक्षेम आत्मवान् || 45||

trai-guṇya-viṣhayā vedā nistrai-guṇyo bhavārjuna
nirdvandvo nitya-sattva-stho niryoga-kṣhema ātmavān

BG 2.45: The Vedas deal with the three attributes;  O Arjuna; be thou above these three attributes; beyond the pairs of opposites , ever steadfast in satva , and without concern for possessions, be situated in the self.

Sri Krishnaya Thubyam Nama: