Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 24
Guṇa-vibhāga: The Three Modes and the Path Beyond Them
कैवल्यं सात्त्विकं ज्ञानं रजो वैकल्पिकं च यत् । प्राकृतं तामसं ज्ञानं मन्निष्ठं निर्गुणं स्मृतम् ॥ २४ ॥
kaivalyaṁ sāttvikaṁ jñānaṁ rajo vaikalpikaṁ ca yat prākṛtaṁ tāmasaṁ jñānaṁ man-niṣṭhaṁ nirguṇaṁ smṛtam
കൈവല്യസ്വരൂപമായ ജ്ഞാനം സാത്ത്വികം; ദ്വൈത-വികൽപ്പത്തെ ആശ്രയിച്ച ജ്ഞാനം രാജസം; ജഡ പ്രാകൃത ജ്ഞാനം താമസം. എന്നാൽ എന്നിൽ നിഷ്ഠയുള്ള ജ്ഞാനം നിർഗുണം, ഗുണാതീതമെന്നു സ്മൃതം.
The Lord clearly explains here that spiritual knowledge of His supreme personality is transcendental to ordinary religious knowledge in the mode of goodness. In the mode of goodness one understands the existence of a higher spiritual nature within all things. In the mode of passion one acquires scientific knowledge of the material body. And in the mode of ignorance one fixes one’s mind on the sense objects without higher awareness, perceiving things as a small child or a retarded person does.
FAQs
In 11.25.24, Kṛṣṇa explains that sāttvika knowledge tends toward kaivalya (impersonal liberation), rājasa knowledge is speculative and option-filled, and tāmasa knowledge is materialistic; knowledge fixed in Kṛṣṇa is nirguṇa, beyond the modes.
Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on discerning types of knowledge and guiding him toward devotion-centered realization—knowledge anchored in the Lord, which transcends material qualities.
Evaluate learning and goals by whether they increase remembrance and service to Kṛṣṇa; shift from mere speculation or material utility to God-centered understanding through sādhana like hearing, chanting, and devotional practice.