Verses - Modes of nature

Bhagavad-Gītā 18.29-32

"O winner of wealth, now please listen as I tell you in detail of the different kinds of understanding and determination, according to the three modes of material nature." "O son of Pṛthā, that understanding by which one knows what ought to be done and what ought not to be done, what is to be feared and what is not to be feared, what is binding and what is liberating, is in the mode of goodness." "O son of Pṛthā, that understanding which cannot distinguish between religion and irreligion, between action that should be done and action that should not be done, is in the mode of passion." "That understanding which considers irreligion to be religion and religion to be irreligion, under the spell of illusion and darkness, and strives always in the wrong direction, O Pārtha, is in the mode of ignorance." https://vedy.online/en/bg/18/29/ & https://vedy.online/en/bg/18/30/ & https://vedy.online/en/bg/18/31/ & https://vedy.online/en/bg/18/32/

Bhagavad-Gītā 18.33-35

"O son of Pṛthā, that determination which is unbreakable, which is sustained with steadfastness by yoga practice, and which thus controls the activities of the mind, life and senses is determination in the mode of goodness." "But that determination by which one holds fast to fruitive results in religion, economic development and sense gratification is of the nature of passion, O Arjuna." "And that determination which cannot go beyond dreaming, fearfulness, lamentation, moroseness and illusion – such unintelligent determination, O son of Pṛthā, is in the mode of darkness." https://vedy.online/en/bg/18/33/ & https://vedy.online/en/bg/18/34/ & https://vedy.online/en/bg/18/35/

Bhagavad-Gītā 18.36-39

"O best of the Bhāratas, now please hear from Me about the three kinds of happiness by which the conditioned soul enjoys, and by which he sometimes comes to the end of all distress." "That which in the beginning may be just like poison but at the end is just like nectar and which awakens one to self-realization is said to be happiness in the mode of goodness." "That happiness which is derived from contact of the senses with their objects and which appears like nectar at first but poison at the end is said to be of the nature of passion." "And that happiness which is blind to self-realization, which is delusion from beginning to end and which arises from sleep, laziness and illusion is said to be of the nature of ignorance." https://vedy.online/en/bg/18/36/ & https://vedy.online/en/bg/18/37/ & https://vedy.online/en/bg/18/38/ & https://vedy.online/en/bg/18/39/

Bhagavad-Gītā 18.40

"There is no being existing, either here or among the demigods in the higher planetary systems, which is freed from these three modes born of material nature." https://vedy.online/en/bg/18/40/

Bhagavad-Gītā 18.41-44

"Brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras are distinguished by the qualities born of their own natures in accordance with the material modes, O chastiser of the enemy." "Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and religiousness – these are the natural qualities by which the brāhmaṇas work." "Heroism, power, determination, resourcefulness, courage in battle, generosity and leadership are the natural qualities of work for the kṣatriyas." "Farming, cow protection and business are the natural work for the vaiśyas, and for the śūdras there are labor and service to others." https://vedy.online/en/bg/18/41/ & https://vedy.online/en/bg/18/42/ & https://vedy.online/en/bg/18/43/ & https://vedy.online/en/bg/18/44/

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.23

"The transcendental Personality of Godhead is indirectly associated with the three modes of material nature, namely passion, goodness and ignorance, and just for the material world’s creation, maintenance and destruction He accepts the three qualitative forms of Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva. Of these three, all human beings can derive ultimate benefit from Viṣṇu, the form of the quality of goodness." https://vedy.online/en/sb1/2/23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.24

"Firewood is a transformation of earth, but smoke is better than the raw wood. And fire is still better, for by fire we can derive the benefits of superior knowledge [through Vedic sacrifices]. Similarly, passion [rajas] is better than ignorance [tamas], but goodness [sattva] is best because by goodness one can come to realize the Absolute Truth." https://vedy.online/en/sb1/2/24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.27

"Those who are in the modes of passion and ignorance worship those in the same category — namely the forefathers, other living beings and the demigods who are in charge of cosmic activities — for they are urged by a desire to be materially benefited with women, wealth, power and progeny." https://vedy.online/en/sb1/2/27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.32-34

"The Lord, as Supersoul, pervades all things, just as fire permeates wood, and so He appears to be of many varieties, though He is the absolute one without a second." "The Supersoul enters into the bodies of the created beings who are influenced by the modes of material nature and causes them to enjoy the effects of these modes by the subtle mind." "Thus the Lord of the universes maintains all planets inhabited by demigods, men and lower animals. Assuming the roles of incarnations, He performs pastimes to reclaim those in the mode of pure goodness." https://vedy.online/en/sb1/2/32 & https://vedy.online/en/sb1/2/33 & https://vedy.online/en/sb1/2/34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.3.1

"Sūta said: In the beginning of the creation, the Lord first expanded Himself in the universal form of the puruṣa incarnation and manifested all the ingredients for the material creation. And thus at first there was the creation of the sixteen principles of material action. This was for the purpose of creating the material universes." https://vedy.online/en/sb1/3/1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.10.21-22

"They said: Here He is, the original Personality of Godhead as we definitely remember Him. He alone existed before the manifested creation of the modes of nature, and in Him only, because He is the Supreme Lord, all living beings merge, as if sleeping at night, their energy suspended." "The Personality of Godhead, again desiring to give names and forms to His parts and parcels, the living entities, placed them under the guidance of material nature. By His own potency, material nature is empowered to re-create." https://vedy.online/en/sb1/10/21 & https://vedy.online/en/sb1/10/22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.11.37-38

"The common materialistic conditioned souls speculate that the Lord is one of them. Out of their ignorance they think that the Lord is affected by matter, although He is unattached." "This is the divinity of the Personality of Godhead: He is not affected by the qualities of material nature, even though He is in contact with them. Similarly, the devotees who have taken shelter of the Lord do not become influenced by the material qualities." https://vedy.online/en/sb1/11/37 & https://vedy.online/en/sb1/11/38