Shloka 18
इन्द्र–बलि संवादः
The Dialogue of Indra and Bali on Fortune, Humility, and Restraint
सत्त्वं रजस्तमश्नेति देवासुरगुणान् विदु: । सत्त्वं देवगुणं विद्यादितरावासुरौ गुणौ
sattvaṃ rajas tamaś ceti devāsura-guṇān viduḥ | sattvaṃ deva-guṇaṃ vidyād itarau āsurau guṇau ||
毗湿摩说：萨埵（sattva）、罗阇（rajas）与昏暗（tamas），被理解为与诸天与阿修罗相应的三种德性。应知萨埵为天德；其余二者——罗阇与昏暗——为阿修罗之性。从伦理而言，澄明与和谐能提升行持；而激情与昏暗往往使人系缚于躁动或有害的冲动之中。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma classifies the three guṇas ethically: sattva is aligned with the divine (clarity, harmony, restraint), while rajas and tamas are aligned with the asuric (restless desire and deluding inertia). The implied guidance is to cultivate sattva to support dharmic conduct.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous living and inner discipline, Bhishma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira by explaining how inner qualities shape behavior, framing sattva as divine and the other two guṇas as asuric.