Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 20
Guṇa-vibhāga: The Three Modes and the Path Beyond Them
सत्त्वाज्जागरणं विद्याद् रजसा स्वप्नमादिशेत् । प्रस्वापं तमसा जन्तोस्तुरीयं त्रिषु सन्ततम् ॥ २० ॥
sattvāj jāgaraṇaṁ vidyād rajasā svapnam ādiśet prasvāpaṁ tamasā jantos turīyaṁ triṣu santatam
พึงเข้าใจว่าความตื่นรู้เกิดจากคุณแห่งความดี (สัตตวะ) การหลับฝันเกิดจากคุณแห่งความหลงใหล (รยะ) และการหลับสนิทไร้ฝันเกิดจากคุณแห่งความมืดบอด (ตมะ) สภาวะที่สี่ของจิตสำนึกนั้นแผ่ซ่านอยู่ในทั้งสามสภาวะนี้และอยู่เหนือโลก
Our original Kṛṣṇa consciousness exists eternally within the soul, and it is also present in all the three phases of awareness, namely normal wakefulness, dreaming and dreamless sleep. Being covered by the modes of nature, this spiritual consciousness may not be manifest, but it continues to exist eternally as the real nature of the living entity.
FAQs
This verse explains that wakefulness is associated with sattva, dreaming with rajas, and deep sleep with tamas—showing how the gunas shape our experience of consciousness.
Krishna teaches Uddhava that beyond the three guna-conditioned states is turīya—pure awareness—so the devotee can recognize the Self’s transcendence and become detached from material identification.
Observe how your mind shifts through clarity, agitation, and dullness, and practice steady devotion and remembrance of Krishna to rest in the witnessing awareness that is present in all states.