Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 21
Sāṅkhya: Categories of the Absolute Truth and the Unfolding of Creation
Tattva-vicāra
यत्तत्सत्त्वगुणं स्वच्छं शान्तं भगवत: पदम् । यदाहुर्वासुदेवाख्यं चित्तं तन्महदात्मकम् ॥ २१ ॥
yat tat sattva-guṇaṁ svacchaṁ śāntaṁ bhagavataḥ padam yad āhur vāsudevākhyaṁ cittaṁ tan mahad-ātmakam
جو سَتّو گُن نہایت صاف اور پُرسکون ہے اور بھگوان کے پد کی سمجھ کی حالت ہے، جسے ‘واسودیو’ نامی چِتّ (شعور) کہا جاتا ہے، وہ مہت تتّو میں ظاہر ہوتا ہے۔
The vāsudeva manifestation, or the status of understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is called pure goodness, or śuddha-sattva. In the śuddha-sattva status there is no infringement of the other qualities, namely passion and ignorance. In the Vedic literature there is mention of the Lord’s expansion as the four Personalities of Godhead — Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. Here in the reappearance of the mahat-tattva the four expansions of Godhead occur. He who is seated within as Supersoul expands first as Vāsudeva.
FAQs
This verse describes Vāsudeva as the Supreme Lord’s pure, transparent, and peaceful state, identified with purified consciousness (citta) aligned with the mahat principle.
In Kapila’s Sāṅkhya explanation, the mahat-tattva is the great cosmic principle from which subtle functions like intelligence and mental awareness manifest; purified citta is thus discussed in relation to that foundational principle.
Cultivate clarity through sāttvika habits—truthfulness, clean living, regulated senses, and devotion (bhakti)—so the mind becomes calm and transparent, making spiritual understanding easier.