Shloka 25

Nārada’s Instructions: Śrāddha, True Dharma, Contentment, Yoga, and Devotion-Centered Renunciation

Devanagari script

रजस्तमश्च सत्त्वेन सत्त्वं चोपशमेन च । एतत्सर्वं गुरौ भक्त्या पुरुषो ह्यञ्जसा जयेत् ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

rajas tamaś ca sattvena sattvaṁ copaśamena ca etat sarvaṁ gurau bhaktyā puruṣo hy añjasā jayet

Translation

Раджас и тамас побеждают, взращивая саттву; затем, через умиротворение и отрешённость, превосходят и саттву, утверждаясь в шуддха-саттве. Всё это совершается само собой, если с верой и бхакти служить духовному учителю, побеждая влияние гун природы.

Synonyms

• रजः: rajas (passion)
• रजः: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; object (to be overcome)

• तमः: tamas (darkness)
• तमः: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; object

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सत्त्वेन: by sattva (goodness)
• सत्त्वेन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; instrumental

• सत्त्वम्: sattva (also)
• सत्त्वम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; object (to be overcome)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• उपशमेन: by tranquility/cessation
• उपशमेन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपशम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; instrumental (by cessation/quieting)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; pronoun used adjectivally

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘एतत्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• गुरौ: in the guru
• गुरौ: अधिकरण (Locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative (in/with regard to the guru)

• भक्त्या: by devotion
• भक्त्या: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; instrumental

• पुरुषः: a person
• पुरुषः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; subject

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• अञ्जसा: easily/straightforwardly
• अञ्जसा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अञ्जसा (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निबद्ध)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) = ‘straightway/easily’

• जयेत्: should conquer
• जयेत्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should conquer’

Purport

Just by treating the root cause of an ailment, one can conquer all bodily pains and sufferings. Similarly, if one is devoted and faithful to the spiritual master, he can conquer the influence of sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa very easily. Yogīs and jñānīs practice in many ways to conquer the senses, but the bhakta immediately attains the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead through the mercy of the spiritual master. Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo. If the spiritual master is favorably inclined, one naturally receives the mercy of the Supreme Lord, and by the mercy of the Supreme Lord one immediately becomes transcendental, conquering all the influences of sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa within this material world. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā ( sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate ). If one is a pure devotee acting under the directions of the guru, one easily gets the mercy of the Supreme Lord and thus becomes immediately situated on the transcendental platform. This is explained in the next verse.

Characters & Entities

• Prahlāda Mahārāja
• Guru (spiritual master)

FAQs

How does the Srimad Bhagavatam teach overcoming rajas and tamas?

This verse says rajas (passion) and tamas (ignorance) are conquered by cultivating sattva (goodness), and then even sattva is surpassed by upaśama—inner calm and detachment—rooted in devotion.

Why does Prahlada Maharaja emphasize devotion to the guru here?

Prahlāda presents devotion to the spiritual master as the direct, practical means to rise beyond the modes of nature—because the guru guides the disciple from regulated goodness to genuine transcendence.

What is a practical modern application of transcending the three gunas?

Move from harmful habits (tamas) and restless ambition (rajas) into disciplined clarity (sattva), and then cultivate steady detachment through sincere devotional service and guidance from a qualified spiritual teacher.