Human nature is like a boat that is rocked by the waves of emotions and balanced a little bit by limited prudence rendered by thinking mind. Sometimes one is cautious while at other times situation goes out of control and life capsize. The true control comes from logical thinking and decision-making.
Truly, we float inside the triangle of Triguna with its corners of pure Satwa, pure Rajas and pure Tamas. People demonstrate mixed behaviours in numerous combinations of satwa, rajas and tamas, like shades of colours formed of CMYK or RGB digital basics. By education, self-introspection and truth-seeking deliberations, one may rise towards satwa. By emotional preferences one takes sides in rajas and by vengeance and ignorant whims one stoops into tamas.
Note that these are the deep-rooted traits of soul, reflecting subconsciously in material life, yet few souls introspect and thereby modify, nurture and elevate themselves. Often Tamas is more prolific. A person in tamas may simply dishonour his parents or a teacher, or may murder a saintly person and yet another may lie to the masses and loot public funds exploiting his power and position.
Satwa is reflected by knowledge, judgement, compassion, forgiveness, respect and love for people and animals and fortitude of character, truth and honesty. However, there is no guarantee that a person very truthful and honest is also mellifluous. Not every trait is governed by satwa as people have hybrid combinations of satwik, rajasik and tamasik qualities. This is why it is being said that we all meander within the triangle. Rishi Durwasa and Parashuram were satwik Rishis but known for their fiery speeches, yet their anger resulted in good at large. Satwa and love may have strange manifestations. When parents scold kids for not studying, it is not their anger but love and care for their children. What is apparent in a glance may not be the true intent, sometimes. On the other hand, a devilish person may speak very mellifluous language to deceive. Truly, he is tamasik.
As masses are usually in Prakriti’s control so they are easily deluded. Truth is not easily visible. It requires unveiling layers of delusions. Think! Democracy depend on vastly ignorant Demos: could it be a good political solution? Probabaly it is not the best but optimal solution, as it may still be better than a selfih Autocrat. Yet rules in decomcracy may be tuned to enhance objectivity of the purpose, as democracies are mostly driven by subjective opinions about the leaders, which may or maynot be true.
Satwa accumulates happiness, Rajas earns deeds, O' Bharata, while Tamas, enshrouding knowledge, leads to cynicism and accumulates sorrows.
Satwa is not just the behavioural process, but an elemental character of soul and the key to realization of unison with the Supreme. This instills spirituality in the ways we think and act and imbues purity of knowledge needed for the humanity.
At times, Rajas and Tamas qualities dominate Satwa, O Bharat vanshi! while at other times, Rajas and Satwa subjugate Tamas. Sometimes Tamas trounces upon satwa and rajas.
When all the doors of body illuminate with intellect, then knowledge and science is born and grows further endowed with satwa.
Physically, Senses are the gates. Five senses help us in hearing, seeing, touching, breathing and inhaling while mind is the sixth sense that analyses observations using brain as a tool. Mind has three most important doors as stated by Kapil Muni. He states that the three doors through which observations enter are: 1. Through ‘Intellect-in-Satwa’ or 2. Through ‘Desiring manah-in-Rajas’ or 3. Through ‘Ego-in-Tamas’. These gates are responsible for the kind of perceptions we acquire. Different people observing the same perceive differently. When we engage the mind in satwa, then true knowledge illuminates within.
Greed and desires generate due to lack of self-control. As they grow, know that effect of Rajas is predominant, O best among Bharat lineage!
When Darkness (out of ignorance or ill- knowledge), inertia (or indolence), insanity (or fanaticism) and undue attachments (favoritism) and uncontrolled attractions (infatuations) and all such delusions results, know that Tamas is predominantly controlling, O Son of Kurus!
Commentary: Ignorance leads to inaction or extreme actions. Ignorance can be reflected as insanity or unbalanced impulsive reactions on trifle issues.
How a person receives information and absorbs, distorts or selectively communicates to others depends on the colour of satwa, rajas and tamas his soul exercises. Some send messages on WhatsApp that are enlightening and carry positive message, some forward for rajasik pleasure and fun, yet others spread ghastly and hateful messages, biased or digitally altered to mock others or spread negativity. It takes serious tones, when social medias are used to distort or marginalizing truths and brain wash people to gain political mileage. Beware!
But when great souls act, they take shelter in my divine nature. They revere the supreme God in me in devotion and they know me as the eternal source of existences since beginning and imperishable. (obviously, Kritsna as the word suggests represents entire cosmic existence called Brahm).
Intellect, knowledge, lack of delusions (whims, presumption, prejudices and illogical thoughts), forgiveness, truthfulness, self-restraint (by senses), equanimity (mental restraint from impulses), happiness, grief, prosperity and scarcity, fear and also fearlessness (continued to next Shloke)…
Nonviolence (by heart, mind, speech and actions), egalitarianism or equality among all, contentment, austerity, donations, fame and infamy – all these attributes in beings are due to my various facets.
Humility, without arrogance, nonviolence (by heart, mind, thoughts and actions), tolerance, simplicity in behaviours and service to Guru, purity, stability, determination and self-control (contd …)
…. Dispassion to sense gratification, ego-less-ness (absence of I-factor), insouciant to the births, death, old age, diseases and such pains and deficiencies, (continued…)
Without any obsessions and without (undue) attachment (or favors) to children, wife, home and the rest and always even-minded on encountering the likeable or unlikeable (continued…)
In Yog with me (absorbed in understanding Brahma) and in devotion unto me, going place to place and willing to serve masses in need without emotionally attaching to them, (continued …)
Constantly engaged in spiritual knowledge of physical and metaphysical facts and reality, discovering the gen, the ultimate truth– these are declared as knowledge, anything else is ignorance.
Note that being detached does not connote to being completely callous to society, but to stay engaged in benevolent and utilitarian actions, without ego, attachments and ownerships.
