Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 15
Vṛtrāsura Instructs Indra on Providence and Devotion; The Slaying of Vṛtrāsura
सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति प्रकृतेर्नात्मनो गुणा: । तत्र साक्षिणमात्मानं यो वेद स न बध्यते ॥ १५ ॥
sattvaṁ rajas tama iti prakṛter nātmano guṇāḥ tatra sākṣiṇam ātmānaṁ yo veda sa na badhyate
സത്ത്വം, രജസ്, തമസ് എന്നീ ഗുണങ്ങൾ ആത്മാവിന്റെതല്ല; പ്രകൃതിയുടേതാണ്. ഈ ഗുണങ്ങളുടെ പ്രവർത്തന-പ്രതിഫലങ്ങളുടെ വെറും സാക്ഷിയായ ശുദ്ധാത്മാവിനെ അറിയുന്നവൻ ബന്ധിക്കപ്പെടുന്നില്ല; അവൻ മോചിതനാണ്.
As the Lord explains in Bhagavad-gītā (18.54) :
FAQs
This verse states that sattva, rajas, and tamas belong to prakṛti (material nature), not to the ātmā; realizing the self as the witness frees one from bondage to the modes.
While facing Indra in battle, Vṛtrāsura instructs him (and all listeners) in spiritual truth—distinguishing the soul from material nature—showing that real freedom is transcendence of the gunas.
Notice moods and impulses as movements of the gunas, and practice steady remembrance that you are the observing consciousness; this reduces reactive behavior and supports devotion and inner freedom.