The Gita according to Gandhi 121

The Gita according to Gandhi -Mahadev Desai

The Gunas Thus the Bhagavata Purana does not rest content with defining sattvika, rajasa and tamasa knowledge, happiness, and doer, as the Gita has done (XVIII. 19-21; XVIII. 37-39; XVIII. 26-28), but defines the fourth variety transcending the three, viz. nirguna knowledge, nirguna happiness, and nirguna doer — nirguna variety being defined as "proceeding from the Lord". Shankaracharya, with his characteristic scientific precision, defines not the three but four gunas, in his Vioekachudamani calling the third and fourth mishra saliva (mixed sattva) and oishuddha sattva (pure sattva) respectively. The characteristics of rajas and tamas are practically the same as in the Gita, but those of mixed sattva are said to be conscious performance of virtues, conscious faith and devotion etc., whereas those of pure sattva are serenity, light, bliss, selfrealization etc.