Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 40

Uddhava Sent to Vraja: Consolation to Nanda-Yaśodā and the Gopīs’ Separation

Devanagari script

सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति भजते निर्गुणो गुणान् । क्रीडन्नतीतोऽपि गुणै: सृजत्यवति हन्त्यज: ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

sattvaṁ rajas tama iti bhajate nirguṇo guṇān krīḍann atīto ’pi guṇaiḥ sṛjaty avan hanty ajaḥ

Translation

虽超越物质自然的三种属性——善、激、暗——超然的主（nirguṇa）仍以戏游之意与诸属性相应。于是那不生的至上主借由诸属性而创造、维持并毁灭。

Synonyms

• sattvam: sattva (goodness)
• sattvam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• rajaḥ: rajas (passion)
• rajaḥ: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• tamaḥ: tamas (darkness)
• tamaḥ: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• iti: thus/as
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-शब्दः (quotative particle)

• bhajate: partakes of/assumes
• bhajate: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhaj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• nirguṇaḥ: quality-less; beyond guṇas
• nirguṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—नञ्-तत्पुरुष ('without qualities')

• guṇān: the qualities (guṇas)
• guṇān: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• krīḍan: playing
• krīḍan: Karta (कर्ता/agent qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: krīḍ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• atītaḥ: transcended
• atītaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati-√i (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'gone beyond'

• api: even though
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-कारक-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• guṇaiḥ: by/with the guṇas
• guṇaiḥ: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• sṛjati: creates
• sṛjati: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sṛj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• avati: protects
• avati: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: av (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• hanti: destroys
• hanti: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• ajaḥ: the unborn (Lord)
• ajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Purport

As stated in the Brahma-sūtra (2.1.33), loka-vat līlā-kaivalyam: “The Lord performs His spiritual pastimes as if He were a resident of this world.”

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Lord being nirguṇa yet acting through the guṇas?

This verse explains that the Lord is transcendental to material nature, yet He accepts the three modes as His instrument, and through them He performs creation, maintenance, and dissolution.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the Lord as ‘playing’ while creating and destroying the universe?

He emphasizes the Lord’s absolute freedom: cosmic functions do not bind or fatigue Him; they occur effortlessly as His līlā, while He remains beyond the modes.

Practical application of the teaching on guṇas in modern life?

Recognize how sattva, rajas, and tamas influence your mind and choices, and cultivate devotion that lifts consciousness beyond their push and pull, remembering the Lord as the ultimate controller.