Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 4
Guṇa-vibhāga: The Three Modes and the Path Beyond Them
शमो दमस्तितिक्षेक्षा तप: सत्यं दया स्मृति: । तुष्टिस्त्यागोऽस्पृहा श्रद्धा ह्रीर्दयादि: स्वनिर्वृति: ॥ २ ॥ काम ईहा मदस्तृष्णा स्तम्भ आशीर्भिदा सुखम् । मदोत्साहो यश:प्रीतिर्हास्यं वीर्यं बलोद्यम: ॥ ३ ॥ क्रोधो लोभोऽनृतं हिंसा याच्ञा दम्भ: क्लम: कलि: । शोकमोहौ विषादार्ती निद्राशा भीरनुद्यम: ॥ ४ ॥ सत्त्वस्य रजसश्चैतास्तमसश्चानुपूर्वश: । वृत्तयो वर्णितप्राया: सन्निपातमथो शृणु ॥ ५ ॥
śamo damas titikṣekṣā tapaḥ satyaṁ dayā smṛtiḥ tuṣṭis tyāgo ’spṛhā śraddhā hrīr dayādiḥ sva-nirvṛtiḥ
Control of mind and senses, forbearance, discernment, steadfastness in one’s prescribed dharma, truthfulness, compassion, sacred remembrance, contentment, generosity, renunciation of sense pleasure, faith in the spiritual master, shame at improper acts, charity, simplicity, humility, and inner satisfaction—these are the qualities of sattva, the mode of goodness. Material desire, intense endeavor, audacity, dissatisfaction even in gain, false pride, prayers for worldly advancement, seeing oneself as superior, indulgence in sense enjoyment, rash eagerness to fight, delight in hearing one’s own praise, ridiculing others, flaunting one’s prowess, and justifying actions by strength—these are the qualities of rajas, the mode of passion. Intolerant anger, greed and stinginess, speech without śāstric authority, violent hatred, living as a parasite, hypocrisy, chronic fatigue, quarrel, lamentation, delusion, misery, depression, excessive sleep, false hopes, fear, and laziness—these are the qualities of tamas, the mode of ignorance. Now hear of the intermixture of these three modes.
FAQs
In 11.25.4, Śrī Kṛṣṇa lists anger, greed, falsehood, violence, hypocrisy, quarrel, lamentation, delusion, depression, fear, excessive sleep, and lack of effort as tamasic tendencies.
Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava to recognize how the modes shape behavior, so one can avoid tamasic habits, cultivate clarity and goodness, and ultimately transcend all modes through devotion.
Use the verse as a self-check: when anger, fear, laziness, dishonesty, or quarrel dominate, treat it as a tamas warning sign and shift toward sattvic routines and bhakti practices like truthful speech, nonviolence, regulated sleep, and sincere remembrance of Kṛṣṇa.