Gyaneshwari -Sant Gyaneshwar
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Chapter-14
The Three Qualities
17. From sattva arises knowledge, from rajas only greed and from tamas arise negligence, delusion and ignorance. Therefore, O Arjuna, the sattva is the cause of knowledge, as the sun is the cause of the day (261-265). Similarly, greed is caused by the rajas quality, as the forgetfulness of his non-dual nature causes the Supreme Self to be embodied. O wise Arjuna, the tamas quality gives rise to the three faults of delusion, ignorance and heedlessness. I have taught you separately the distinctive characteristics of these three qualities, so that you can discern them clearly like the avala fruit (emblic myrobalam), kept on an open palm. Out of the three, rajas, and tamas lead to a man’s fall, while the sattva alone conduces to knowledge. It is for this reason, that some practise the sattvic states from their very birth, just as some prefer the fourth kind of devotion (accompanied by knowledge of the Self), to the other three kinds of devotion and follow it (266-270). |
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