Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 28

Guṇa-vibhāga: The Three Modes and the Path Beyond Them

Devanagari script

पथ्यं पूतमनायस्तमाहार्यं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम् । राजसं चेन्द्रियप्रेष्ठं तामसं चार्तिदाशुचि ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

pathyaṁ pūtam anāyastam āhāryaṁ sāttvikaṁ smṛtam rājasaṁ cendriya-preṣṭhaṁ tāmasaṁ cārti-dāśuci

Translation

อาหารที่เหมาะแก่สุขภาพ บริสุทธิ์ และได้มาโดยไม่ลำบาก เป็นสาตตวิกะ; อาหารที่เป็นที่โปรดของอินทรีย์และให้ความสุขฉับพลัน เป็นราชส; อาหารที่สกปรกและก่อทุกข์ เป็นตมส.

Synonyms

• पथ्यम्: wholesome
• पथ्यम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पथ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘आहार्यम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पूतम्: pure
• पूतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूत (कृदन्त; √पू धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त (past participle) ‘purified’

• अनायस्तम्: obtained without strain
• अनायस्तम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनायस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘आहार्यम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• आहार्यम्: food (that which is to be eaten)
• आहार्यम्: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (that which is to be eaten/food)

• सात्त्विकम्: sattvic
• सात्त्विकम्: समानााधिकरण (Predicate/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सात्त्विक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (predicate adjective)

• स्मृतम्: is considered
• स्मृतम्: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि भावः ‘is considered’

• राजसम्: rajasic
• राजसम्: समानााधिकरण (Predicate/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (आहार्यम्) इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• इन्द्रिय-प्रेष्ठम्: most pleasing to the senses
• इन्द्रिय-प्रेष्ठम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (इन्द्रियाणां प्रेष्ठम्)

• तामसम्: tamasic
• तामसम्: समानााधिकरण (Predicate/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तामस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (आहार्यम्) इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• आर्ति-द: causing distress
• आर्ति-द: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + द (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √दा धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (आर्तिं ददाति इति) ‘pain-giving’

• अशुचि: impure
• अशुचि: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘आहार्यम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Purport

Food in the mode of ignorance causes painful disease and ultimately premature death.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic food?

In Bhagavatam 11.25.28, Kṛṣṇa explains that wholesome, pure, easily obtained food is sāttvika; intensely sense-pleasing food is rājasa; and impure food that brings distress is tāmasa.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in the Uddhava Gita?

Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on how the three guṇas influence daily life; by understanding food’s qualities, a seeker can choose habits that support clarity, devotion, and steady spiritual practice.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Choose clean, nourishing, simply prepared foods that support health and calmness; reduce foods chosen mainly for intense stimulation; avoid questionable, impure, or distress-causing foods that agitate the mind and body.