Shloka 24
पार्थिवाद्दारुणो धूमस्तस्मादग्निस्त्रयीमय: । तमसस्तु रजस्तस्मात्सत्त्वं यद्ब्रह्मदर्शनम् ॥ २४ ॥
pārthivād dāruṇo dhūmas tasmād agnis trayīmayaḥ tamasas tu rajas tasmāt sattvaṁ yad brahma-darśanam
Firewood is a transformation of earth, yet smoke is superior to raw wood; and fire, connected with the three Vedas, is better still, for through fire in sacrifice one gains the fruit of higher knowledge. In the same way, rajas is better than tamas, but sattva is best, for by sattva one attains vision of Brahman.
As explained above, one can get release from the conditioned life of material existence by devotional service to the Personality of Godhead. It is further comprehended herein that one has to rise to the platform of the mode of goodness ( sattva ) so that one can be eligible for the devotional service of the Lord. But if there are impediments on the progressive path, anyone, even from the platform of tamas, can gradually rise to the sattva platform by the expert direction of the spiritual master. Sincere candidates must, therefore, approach an expert spiritual master for such a progressive march, and the bona fide, expert spiritual master is competent to direct a disciple from any stage of life: tamas, rajas or sattva.
FAQs
This verse explains a progression: from tamas (ignorance) arises rajas (passion), and from rajas arises sattva (goodness), through which Brahman-realization becomes possible.
Agni is called “trayī-maya”—the embodiment of Vedic ritual—because Vedic sacrifices are offered into fire, making agni central to yajña and purification.
Move from dullness and confusion (tamas) toward disciplined, purposeful action (rajas), and then cultivate clarity, purity, and wisdom (sattva) through clean habits, truthful living, and sādhana—supporting spiritual realization.