Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

पुरुषं सत्त्वसंयुक्तमनुमीयाच्छमादिभि: । कामादिभी रजोयुक्तं क्रोधाद्यैस्तमसा युतम् ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

puruṣaṁ sattva-saṁyuktam anumīyāc chamādibhiḥ kāmādibhī rajo-yuktaṁ krodhādyais tamasā yutam

Translation

One who displays qualities such as self-control is understood to be predominated by sattva (goodness). One marked by lust and the like is in rajas (passion), and one marked by anger and the like is in tamas (ignorance).

Synonyms

• पुरुषम्: a person
• पुरुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• सत्त्व-संयुक्तम्: associated with sattva
• सत्त्व-संयुक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत् (past passive participle)

• अनुमीयात्: one should infer
• अनुमीयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-√मा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शम-आदिभिः: by calmness and the like
• शम-आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ = etc. (समाहार/समूह)

• काम-आदिभिः: by desire etc.
• काम-आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• रजः-युक्तम्: associated with rajas
• रजः-युक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP)

• क्रोध-आद्यैः: by anger and the like
• क्रोध-आद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• तमसा: by tamas
• तमसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• युतम्: joined/associated
• युतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युत (कृदन्त; √यु (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

How does Srimad Bhagavatam explain the signs of sattva, rajas, and tamas?

This verse says goodness is known by qualities like calmness and self-control, passion by lust and restless desire, and ignorance by anger and related dark tendencies.

Why did Krishna teach Uddhava to identify the three gunas?

In the Uddhava Gītā, Kṛṣṇa trains Uddhava in discernment so he can diagnose material conditioning and cultivate the qualities that support bhakti and transcendence.

What is a practical way to apply this verse in modern life?

Observe your dominant emotions: choose practices that increase calm discipline (sattva), reduce lust-driven distraction (rajas), and avoid anger-fueled reactions (tamas) through mindful restraint and devotional focus.