Srimad Bhagavad-Gita : Chapter-14, Slokam - 10.

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29/02/2020.

Srimad  Bhagavad-Gita :

Chapter-14. ( GUNA-TRAYA-VIBHAGA-YOGAM )

Slokam-10.
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"Rajastamascabhibhuya  sattvam  bhavati bharata,

rajah  sattvam  tamascaiva  tamah  sattvam  rajastatha."


bharata  =  hey  Arjuna!

rajah  tamah  ca  abhibhuya  =  ( sometimes ),  overcoming  rajas  and  tamas  ( over-rule);

sattvam  bhavati  =  ( person )  gains  satvic  gunam;

sattvam  =  ( some  other  times ),  sattvam  and;

tamah  ca  ( abhibhuya )  =  tamas,  by  defeating  these  two;

rajah  ( bhavati )  =  ( person )  attains  rajo - gunam;

tatha  =  similarly;

 sattvam  rajah  ( abhibhuya )  =  by  defeating  sattvam  and  rajas  guna-s;

tamah  bhavati  =  ( person )  comes  under  the  influence  of  tamo gunam. 

Essence of Slokam : "Sometimes the mode of passion becomes prominent, defeating the mode of goodness, O Arjuna! And sometimes the mode of goodness defeats passion, and at other times the mode of ignorance defeats goodness and passion. In this way there is always competition for supremacy."

Important  slokam : Here  how  each  gunam  takes  control  by  overcoming  the  other  two. 

Discussion :
 
Now Lord Krishna explains the relationship and interaction between the three gunas which are sattva guna or the mode of goodness, raja guna or the mode of passion and tama guna or the mode of ignorance. All three gunas inexplicably locked to all jivas or embodied beings throughout material existence; but one of the gunas prevails over the other two due to the stringent law of karma or the reactions of committed actions performed in the previous lifetime combined with the effects from the types of food eaten such as vegetarian or animal, compounded with the degree of sinfulness committed knowingly or unknowingly determines which of the three gunas will be prevalent.

The Chadogya Upanisad VI.VI.V beginning annamayam hi somya mana states: The mind is made up of the food that it eats. Srila Vedavyasa states in the Bhagavat Purana that knowledge, water, progeny, place, time, actions, origin, meditation, formula and mental tendency, are the 10 causes of growth.

All the three gunas being sattva guna or mode of goodness, raja guna or mode of passiion and tama guna or mode of ignorance originate from past karma which are reactions to actions from previous lives whose results are known as adrishta. When sattva guna is dominant it overpowers the effects of rajas and tamas and in this way sattva binds the jiva or embodied being exclusively to its effects of happiness and pursuit of knowledge. When raja guna is dominant it overpowers sattva and tamas and binds the jiva to its effects of desire and activity and when tama guna is dominant it overpowers sattva and rajas and binds the jiva by its effects of inertia and indolence.

All the three gunas being sattva guna or mode of goodness, raja guna or mode of passiion and tama guna or mode of ignorance originate from past karma which are reactions to actions from previous lives whose results are known as adrishta. When sattva guna is dominant it overpowers the effects of rajas and tamas and in this way sattva binds the jiva or embodied being exclusively to its effects of happiness and pursuit of knowledge. When raja guna is dominant it overpowers sattva and tamas and binds the jiva to its effects of desire and activity and when tama guna is dominant it overpowers sattva and rajas and binds the jiva by its effects of inertia and indolence.

Lord Krishna confirms the fact that the three gunas or modes of sattva or goodness, rajas or passion and tamas or nescience are the three qualities that exist within all jivas or embodied beings in the material existence. But owing to adrishta which is conditions imposed by the effects of past karma or reactions to actions and determined as well by the types of food that were chosen to eat in sustaining the physical body in the previous life. Based upon this assessment any of three gunas may be dominant or they may neutralise each other or they may be antagonistic to each other depending upon which mode is more present and dominant within a jiva. This being the reality it can be inferred by knowledge and discerned by witnessing the visible effects of the three gunas as manifested within any jiva. 
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To be continued .. Next Slokam-11.

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