THE THREE MODES OF NATURE

A COMPREHENSIVE TABLE

GOODNESS PASSION IGNORANCE

SATTVAS RAJAS TAMAS
GENERAL NATURE Purest in material Born of desire or lust Born of ignorance
(Bg. 14.6-8) world (nirmalatva), (rågåtmaka), arises (ajñåna-ja); the
illuminating from hankering (t®ß∫å- delusion of all
(prakåΩaka), without saõga-samudbhava) embodied living
sinful reaction entities (mohanaµ
(anåmaya) sarva-dehina)
BINDS OR Knowledge Fruitive work Insanity (pramåda),
CONDITIONS (jñåna-saõga), (karma-saõga) indolence (ålasya),
EMBODIED SOUL BY happiness sleep (nidrå)
(Bg. 14.6-8) (sukha-saõga)
PSYCHOLOGICAL Happy Active Helpless
TYPE (Bg. 14.6, pur.)
GENERAL Endowed with Works hard to acquire Falls into lamentation
CHARACTER happiness, virtue, prestige and fortune; and illusion, sleeps
OF PERSON knowledge, and other experiences anxiety excessively, indulges in
(S. Bhåg. 11.25.13-15) good qualities and struggle false hopes, displays
violence to others
WORK GIVES Oneself [Not oneself ] No one
SATISFACTION TO Others, through charity
(Bg. 14.9, pur.)
MANIFESTATIONS All the gates of the Great attachment, Darkness, inertia,
(Bg. 14.11-13) body illuminated by fruitive activity, intense madness, and illusion
knowledge endeavor,
uncontrollable desire
and hankering
MENTAL AND Consciousness becomes Distortion of Failure and
PHYSICAL clear, senses detached intelligence because of disappearance of
SYMPTOMS from matter, one too much activity, higher awareness,
(S. Bhåg. 11.25.16-18) experiences inability of perceiving inability to concentrate
fearlessness in the body senses to disentangle attention; the mind is
and detachment from themselves from ruined and manifests
the mind; one has the mundane objects, an ignorance and
opportunity to realize unhealthy condition of depression
K®ß∫a the working physical
organs, unsteady
perplexity of the mind
QUALITIES Mind and sense control Material desire Intolerant anger
(S. Bhåg. 11.25.2-5) (Ωama˙, dama˙), (kåma˙), (krodha˙),
tolerance (titikßa), great endeavor (îhå), stinginess (lobha˙),
discrimination (îkßa), audacity (mada˙), speaking without
sticking to one's dissatisfaction even in scriptural authority
prescribed duties gain (t®ß∫a), [false speech]
(tapa˙), false pride (stambha˙), (an®tam),
truthfulness (satyam), praying for material violent hatred (hiµså),
mercy (dayå), advancement (åΩîh), living as a parasite
careful study of the past considering oneself [begging] (yåcñå),
and future (sm®ti˙), different and better hypocrisy (dambha˙),
satisfaction in any than others [separatist chronic fatigue
condition (tu߆i˙), mentality] (bhidå), (klama˙),
generosity (tyåga˙), sense gratification quarrel (kali˙),
renunciation of sense (sukham), lamentation and
gratification (asp®ha), rash eagerness to fight delusion
faith in the spiritual [courage based on (Ωoka-mohau),
master (Ωraddhå), intoxication] depression
being embarrassed at (mada-utsåha˙), [unhappiness and false
improper action (hrî˙), a fondness for hearing humility] (vißåda-årtî),
charity, simplicity, oneself praised sleeping too much
humility, and so on (yaΩa˙-prîti˙), (nidrå),
(dayå-ådhi˙), the tendency to false expectations
satisfaction within ridicule others (åΩå),
oneself (sva-nirv®ti˙) (håsyam), fear (bhî˙),
advertising one's own laziness (anudyama˙)
prowess (vîryam),
justifying one's actions
by one's strength
(bala-udyamah)
RESULT (Bg. 14.16 Pure and brings Misery Foolishness, nonsense
and pur.) happiness
PRODUCTS Knowledge Greed Foolishness, madness,
(Bg. 14.17) illusion
DIRECTION OF Upward (to higher Staying in the middle Downward (to hellish
EVOLUTION planets) (on earth) worlds)
(Bg. 14.18)

(S.Bhåg. 11.25.21) To higher and higher In intermediate Falls lower and lower
positions positions

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DESTINATION AFTER Pure, higher planets of Fruitive workers Animals
DEATH the sages
(Bg. 14.14,15)

(S.Bhåg. 11.25.22) Goes to heavenly Born among humans Goes to hell

planets (sva˙) (nara- loka) (niraya)
FAITH (¸RADDHÅ) Worship demigods Worship demons Worship ghosts and
(Bg. 17.2-6) spirits

(S.Bhåg. 11.25.27) Directed toward Rooted in fruitive work Residing in irreligious

spiritual life activities

FOOD Juicy , fatty, wholesome, Bitter, sour, salty, hot Old (over three hours),
(Bg. 17. 7-10) pleasing to the heart. pungent dry, and tasteless, decomposed,
Increases longevity, burning. Causes putrid, consisting of
purifies existence, gives distress, misery, disease remnants and
strength, health, untouchable things
happiness, satisfaction

(S. Bhåg. 11.25.28) Wholesome, pure, and Gives immediate Unclean and causes
obtained without pleasure to the senses distress
difficulty
SACRIFICE (YAJÑA) Performed according Performed for material Performed without
(Bg. 17.11-13) to scriptural direction, benefit or for the sake regard for scriptural
as a matter of duty, by of pride (dambha) directions, without
those who desire no distribution of
reward sanctified food
(prasåda), without
Vedic mantras, gifts to
priests (dakßi∫a), and
faith
AUSTERITY (TAPAS) Executed with Executed out of pride Executed out of
OF BODY, SPEECH, transcendental faith, (dambha) to gain foolishness, involving
AND MIND without desire for respect, honor, self-torture or the aim
(Bg. 17.14-19) fruits, for the sake of worship. It is flickering of destroying or
the Supreme and temporary injuring others
CHARITY (DÅNAM) Given out of duty, Given with expectation Given at an impure
(Bg. 17.20-22) without expectation of of return, or with place, at improper
return, at proper time desire for fruitive time, to unworthy
and place, to a worthy results, or in grudging persons, or without
person mood proper attention or
respect
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RENUNCIATION Performs prescribed Of prescribed duties as Of prescribed duties
(TYÅGA) duty only because it troublesome or out of because of illusion
(Bg. 18.7-9) ought to be done, and fear of bodily (moha)
renounces material discomfort
association and
attachment to fruits
KNOWLEDGE One undivided Sees a different type of By which one is
(JÑÅNA) (Bg. 18.20-22) spiritual nature seen in living entity in every attached to one kind of
all living entities different body work as all in all,
without knowledge of
reality, and is very
meager

(Bg. 18.22, pur.) Concerns the spirit soul Produces many Concerned only with
beyond the body theories and doctrines keeping the body
by dint of mundane comfortable
logic and mental
speculation

(S.Bhåg. 11.25.24) Absolute knowledge Knowledge based on Foolish, materialistic

(kaivalyam jñånam) duality [vaikalpika, i.e. knowledge [like that of
dubious, indecisive] a small child]

ACTION (KARMA) Regulated, performed Performed with great Performed in illusion,

(Bg. 18.23-25) without attachment, effort by one seeking to in disregard of
without love or hatred, gratify desires, enacted scriptural injunctions,
and without desire for from a sense of false without concern for
fruitive results ego future bondage or for
violence and distress
caused to others

WORK (KARMA) As an offering to Krsna, With a desire to enjoy Impelled by violence

(S.Bhåg. 11.25.23) without consideration the results and envy
of the fruits

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WORKER (KARTA) Without association Attached to work and Engaged in work
(Bg. 18.26-28) with the modes, the fruits, desiring to against injunction of
without false ego, with enjoy the fruits, greedy, scripture, materialistic,
determination and always envious, impure, obstinate, cheating,
enthusiasm, without moved by joy and expert in insulting,
wavering in success or sorrow lazy, morose, and
failure procrastinating

(S.Bhåg. 11.25.26) Free of attachment Blinded by personal Completely forgotten

desire how to tell right from
wrong
UNDERSTANDING By which one knows Cannot distinguish Under spell of illusions
(BUDDHI) what ought to be done between religious and and darkness considers
(Bg. 18.30-32) and not to be done, irrelgion, between irreligion to be religion
what is to be feared and actions that ought to be and vice versa, and
not to be feared, what done and ought not to strives always in the
is binding and be done wrong direction
liberating
DETERMINATION Unbreakable, sustained Holds one fast to Cannot go beyond
(DH‰TI) by steadfastness in yoga fruitive results in dreaming, fearfulness,
(Bg. 18.33-35) practice, control dharma, artha, and kåma lamentation,
activity of mind, life moroseness, and
and senses illusion
HAPPINESS Like poison in the Arises from contact Is illusory from
(SUKHAM) (Bg. 18.37- beginning, but in the with senses and their beginning to end and
39) end like nectar, and objects and is like blind to self-realization,
which awakens one to nectar in the beginning arising from sleep,
self-realization (åtma- and poison in the end laziness, and illusion
buddhi-prasåda-ja) (pramåda)

(S.Bhåg. 11.25.29) Derived from the self Based on sense Based on delusion and
gratification degradation
WORSHIP OF K‰ÍıA With loving devotion, By prescribed duties With the desire to
(S.Bhåg. 11.25.10-11) offering prescribed with the hope of commit violence
duties without material gaining material against others
attachment benefit
DEVOTIONAL Devotee offers the By a separatist (p®thak- By a person who is
SERVICE results of activities in bhåva˙), with a motive envious, proud, violent,
(S. Bhåg. 3.29.8-10) order to free himself for material enjoyment, and angry, and who is a
from inebrieties of fame, and opulence separatist (binna-d®k)
fruitive activities

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KINDS OF BEING Increases strength of Increases strength of Increases strength of
EMPOWERED demigods (devas) enemies of the the most wicked
(S.Bhåg. 11.25.19) demigods (asuras) (rakßasas)
STATE OF Alert wakefulness Dreaming sleep Deep, dreamless sleep
CONSCIOUSNESS
PRODUCED
(S.Bhåg. 11.25.20)
RESIDENCE Forest Town Gambling house
(S.Bhåg. 11.25.25)