Shloka 18
सत्त्वं रजस्तमश्नेति देवासुरगुणान् विदु: । सत्त्वं देवगुणं विद्यादितरावासुरौ गुणौ,सत्त्गगुण, रजोगुण और तमोगुण--इन्हें देवताओं और असुरोंका गुण माना गया है। इनमें सत्त्व तो देवताओंका गुण और शेष दोनों असुरोंके गुण हैं
sattvaṃ rajas tamaś ceti devāsura-guṇān viduḥ | sattvaṃ deva-guṇaṃ vidyād itarau āsurau guṇau ||
ビーシュマは言った。「サットヴァ、ラジャス、タマスは、神々とアスラに結びつく三つのグナ（性質）として知られる。サットヴァを神性のグナと知れ。残る二つ—ラジャスとタマス—はアスラのグナである。倫理の上では、澄明と調和は行いを高め、情熱と闇は人を落ち着きなき、あるいは害ある衝動へと縛りつける。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma classifies the three guṇas ethically: sattva is aligned with the divine (clarity, harmony, restraint), while rajas and tamas are aligned with the asuric (restless desire and deluding inertia). The implied guidance is to cultivate sattva to support dharmic conduct.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous living and inner discipline, Bhishma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira by explaining how inner qualities shape behavior, framing sattva as divine and the other two guṇas as asuric.