Chapter 14 • Verse 17
सत्त्वात्सञ्जायते ज्ञानं रजसो लोभ एव च। प्रमादमोहौ तमसो भवतोऽज्ञानमेव च॥
sattvāt sañjāyate jñānaṁ rajaso lobha eva cha pramāda-mohau tamaso bhavato 'jñānam eva cha
Meaning
From sattva arises knowledge; from rajas, greed; and from tamas arise negligence, delusion, and ignorance.
Each guna produces its natural fruit: sattva gives knowledge and wisdom, rajas produces greed and craving, tamas generates carelessness, confusion, and ignorance. We can trace our mental states to their guna-sources.
Strength Reflection
"I trace my knowledge to sattva, my cravings to rajas, my confusion to tamas."
Devotional Surrender
O Lord, increase my sattva so that knowledge may grow within me.