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Part XIV: The Three Gunas or Qualities.1475
the ascendent, then doth it pass to re-birth in a body, and among those in
harmony with its low plane of manifestation.
“The fruit of Sattvas is called good; the fruit of Rajas is called pain and
dissatisfaction and unrest. The fruit of Tamas is called Ignorance and
Stupidity and Inertia. From Sattvas is produced Wisdom; from Rajas, Unrest
and Covetousness; from Tamas, Ignorance, Delusion and Foolishness,
together with Sloth. Those of the Sattvas Guna, are raised up on high; those
of the Rajas Guna reach no higher than the middle plane, which is the plane
of Man’s world activities and life; while those of the Tamas Guna are borne
down by the heavy weight of their quality and sink down far below.
“Say I unto thee, O Prince, that those who see that the only agents of
action are these very Gunas, the Principles of Nature—and also discover
that there is a Being superior to them—know the true nature of the Soul
and enter into Me.
“And when an embodied soul hath passed beyond these three Qualities,
which are in the Nature of all embodiment—and hath learned of the
consciousness beyond them—then is that soul delivered from the bonds,
and is freed from Birth and Death; Old Age and Pain; and drinketh of the
Nectar of Immortality.”
Arjuna: “What are the distinguishing characteristics of the man who hath
passed beyond the Three Gunas, or Qualities? How acteth he? And by
what means hath he overcome and passed beyond the Three?
Krishna: “Hearken to my words, O Prince! He doth not hate these
qualities, Wisdom, Energy and Ignorance, when they come to him—nor yet
longeth after them when they are not with him; but unattached to either like
or dislike for them, he sitteth neutral among the coming and going thereof,
unmoved and unshaken by them—knowing that the Gunas, or Qualities,
exist and are constantly coming and going, yet witnessing their succession
and movement as one outside who witnesseth a procession of objects.
“Yet, even he who standeth self-reliant, and at ease, balanced equally
between pleasure and pain—he to whom a stone, iron, and gold seem