Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 26

Guṇa-vibhāga: The Three Modes and the Path Beyond Them

Devanagari script

सात्त्विक: कारकोऽसङ्गी रागान्धो राजस: स्मृत: । तामस: स्मृतिविभ्रष्टो निर्गुणो मदपाश्रय: ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

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

Translation

Ein Handelnder ohne Anhaftung ist sattvisch; ein Handelnder, vom persönlichen Begehren geblendet, ist rajasisch; und ein Handelnder, der durch verwirrtes Gedächtnis Recht und Unrecht nicht mehr unterscheidet, ist tamasisch. Wer jedoch bei Mir Zuflucht nimmt, ist nirguna, jenseits der Gunas.

Synonyms

• सात्त्विकः: a sattvic person
• सात्त्विकः: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सात्त्विक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (singular)

• कारकः: an agent/doer
• कारकः: समानााधिकरण (Predicate/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (singular); विधेय (predicate nominative)

• असङ्गी: detached
• असङ्गी: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (singular); ‘सात्त्विकः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• रागान्धः: blinded by passion
• रागान्धः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राग (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (singular); कर्मधारयः (रागेण अन्धः)

• राजसः: a rajasic person
• राजसः: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (singular)

• स्मृतः: is considered
• स्मृतः: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकाले क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि भावः ‘is considered’

• तामसः: a tamasic person
• तामसः: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तामस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (singular)

• स्मृति-विभ्रष्टः: deprived of memory
• स्मृति-विभ्रष्टः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक) + विभ्रष्ट (कृदन्त; √भ्रंश्/√भ्रश् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्मृतेः विभ्रष्टः) + क्त-कृदन्त ‘fallen/deprived’

• निर्गुणः: one beyond the guṇas
• निर्गुणः: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (singular)

• मत्-अपाश्रयः: having Me as sole refuge
• मत्-अपाश्रयः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अपाश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (माम्/मम आश्रयः)

Purport

A transcendental worker performs his activities in strict accordance with the directions of Lord Kṛṣṇa and the Lord’s bona fide representatives. Taking shelter of the Lord’s guidance, such a worker remains transcendental to the material modes of nature.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about transcending the three gunas?

This verse states that while actions and consciousness can be classified as sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic, one who takes shelter of Kṛṣṇa becomes nirguṇa—beyond the influence of material modes.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in Canto 11?

In the Uddhava-gītā section, Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on how to understand the modes shaping behavior and how devotion—taking full shelter of the Lord—lifts one beyond those modes.

Practical application of the three gunas teaching in modern life?

Cultivate sattva through clarity and detachment, recognize rajasic agitation and tamasic confusion, and anchor daily life in bhakti (remembrance, service, surrender), which steadily frees one from being driven by the modes.