14.11

sarva-dvāreṣu dehe ’smin
prakāśa upajāyate
jñānaḿ yadā tadā vidyād
vivṛddhaḿ sattvam ity uta

Translation

The manifestations of the mode of goodness can be experienced when all the gates of the body are illuminated by knowledge.

14.12

lobhaḥ pravṛttir ārambhaḥ
karmaṇām aśamaḥ spṛhā
rajasy etāni jāyante
vivṛddhe bharatarṣabha

Translation

O chief of the Bharatas, when there is an increase in the mode of passion the symptoms of great attachment, fruitive activity, intense endeavor, and uncontrollable desire and hankering develop.

14.13

aprakaso ’pravrttis ca
pramado moha eva ca
tamasy etani jayante
vivrddhe kuru-nandana

Translation

When there is an increase in the mode of ignorance, O son of Kuru, darkness, inertia, madness and illusion are manifested.

14.14

yadā sattve pravṛddhe tu
pralayaḿ yāti deha-bhṛt
tadottama-vidāḿ lokān
amalān pratipadyate

Translation

When one dies in the mode of goodness, he attains to the pure higher planets of the great sages.

14.15

rajasi pralayaḿ gatvā
karma-sańgiṣu jāyate
tathā pralīnas tamasi
mūḍha-yoniṣu jāyate

Translation

When one dies in the mode of passion, he takes birth among those engaged in fruitive activities; and when one dies in the mode of ignorance, he takes birth in the animal kingdom.

14.16

karmaṇaḥ sukṛtasyāhuḥ
sāttvikaḿ nirmalaḿ phalam
rajasas tu phalaḿ duḥkham
ajñānaḿ tamasaḥ phalam

Translation

The result of pious action is pure and is said to be in the mode of goodness. But action done in the mode of passion results in misery, and action performed in the mode of ignorance results in foolishness.

14.17

sattvāt sañjāyate jñānaḿ
rajaso lobha eva ca
pramāda-mohau tamaso
bhavato ’jñānam eva ca


Translation

From the mode of goodness, real knowledge develops; from the mode of passion, greed develops; and from the mode of ignorance develop foolishness, madness and illusion.

14.18

ūrdhvaḿ gacchanti sattva-sthā
madhye tiṣṭhanti rājasāḥ
jaghanya-guṇa-vṛtti-sthā
adho gacchanti tāmasāḥ

Translation

Those situated in the mode of goodness gradually go upward to the higher planets; those in the mode of passion live on the earthly planets; and those in the abominable mode of ignorance go down to the hellish worlds.

14.19

nānyaḿ guṇebhyaḥ kartāraḿ
yadā draṣṭānupaśyati
guṇebhyaś ca paraḿ vetti
mad-bhāvaḿ so ’dhigacchati

Translation

When one properly sees that in all activities no other performer is at work than these modes of nature and he knows the Supreme Lord, who is transcendental to all these modes, he attains My spiritual nature.

14.20

guṇān etān atītya trīn
dehī deha-samudbhavān
janma-mṛtyu-jarā-duḥkhair
vimukto ’mṛtam aśnute

Translation

When the embodied being is able to transcend these three modes associated with the material body, he can become free from birth, death, old age and their distresses and can enjoy nectar even in this life.