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
Pengendalian batin dan indra, ketabahan, daya membedakan, tapa, kebenaran, belas kasih, ingatan, kepuasan, kedermawanan, pelepasan kenikmatan indra, iman kepada guru rohani, rasa malu atas perbuatan tak patut, amal, kesederhanaan, kerendahan hati, dan damai dalam diri—itulah sifat-sifat guṇa kebaikan (sattva). Hasrat, usaha besar, keberanian nekat, tidak puas meski untung, kesombongan, doa demi kemajuan duniawi, merasa diri lebih unggul, kenikmatan indra, tergesa untuk bertarung, suka mendengar pujian, mengejek orang lain, memamerkan keperkasaan, dan membenarkan tindakan dengan kekuatan—itulah guṇa nafsu (rajas). Amarah tak tertahan, kikir, ucapan tanpa dasar śāstra, kekerasan, hidup menumpang, kemunafikan, letih berkepanjangan, pertengkaran, ratap, kebingungan, duka, murung, tidur berlebihan, harapan palsu, takut, dan malas—itulah guṇa kebodohan (tamas). Kini dengarlah tentang perpaduan ketiganya.
This verse lists rajo-guna traits such as lust, restless striving, pride/intoxication, craving, stubbornness, divisiveness, fame-attachment, frivolity, and strenuous overendeavoring.
Krishna teaches Uddhava how material nature binds the soul through the gunas; by recognizing rajas and its symptoms, one can cultivate detachment and move toward transcendence and bhakti.
Use it as a self-check: reduce impulsive desire, fame-seeking, and overwork; choose steady practices (sādhana), humility, and service to shift from agitation toward clarity and devotion.