Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 5
Guṇa-vibhāga: The Three Modes and the Path Beyond Them
शमो दमस्तितिक्षेक्षा तप: सत्यं दया स्मृति: । तुष्टिस्त्यागोऽस्पृहा श्रद्धा ह्रीर्दयादि: स्वनिर्वृति: ॥ २ ॥ काम ईहा मदस्तृष्णा स्तम्भ आशीर्भिदा सुखम् । मदोत्साहो यश:प्रीतिर्हास्यं वीर्यं बलोद्यम: ॥ ३ ॥ क्रोधो लोभोऽनृतं हिंसा याच्ञा दम्भ: क्लम: कलि: । शोकमोहौ विषादार्ती निद्राशा भीरनुद्यम: ॥ ४ ॥ सत्त्वस्य रजसश्चैतास्तमसश्चानुपूर्वश: । वृत्तयो वर्णितप्राया: सन्निपातमथो शृणु ॥ ५ ॥
śamo damas titikṣekṣā tapaḥ satyaṁ dayā smṛtiḥ tuṣṭis tyāgo ’spṛhā śraddhā hrīr dayādiḥ sva-nirvṛtiḥ
心与诸根的调伏、忍耐、明辨、安住于所当行之法、真实、慈悲、忆念、知足、布施、舍离感官享乐、对灵性导师的信信、对不当行为的惭愧、施舍、质朴、谦卑与内在自足——此为善性（sattva）之相。物欲、强烈的作为、鲁莽、得利亦不满足、虚妄我慢、祈求世间进益、自认高人一等、感官之乐、好斗之急、爱听称赞、讥笑他人、炫耀勇力并以力量为行事辩护——此为激情（rajas）之相。难忍之怒、吝啬、无经典权威之言、暴烈憎恨、寄生度日、伪善、久疲、争斗、哀叹、迷妄、不乐、抑郁、嗜睡、虚妄期待、恐惧与懒惰——此为愚昧（tamas）之相。今当听闻三性相杂之理。
FAQs
In 11.25.5, Krishna says the tendencies of sattva, rajas, and tamas have been described in order, and He will next explain their mixture—how combined modes shape a person’s behavior.
In the Uddhava-gītā section, Uddhava seeks clear guidance on spiritual life; Krishna explains how the gunas produce different traits and then proceeds to teach how their combinations operate, aiding discernment and transcendence.
By recognizing mixed motivations (clarity, restlessness, inertia) behind thoughts and habits, one can cultivate sattva through discipline and devotion, reduce rajas/tamas triggers, and steadily orient life toward bhakti and inner freedom.