Verses on Sāṃkhya 14.1

14.1

atrāha --- na khalu sattvarajastamāṃsi jātyantarāṇi | kutaḥ | svabhāveṣv avasthānāt | iha khalu rūpayauvanadākṣiṇyamatisādhutvasmṛtyugrabhāvābhāvalīlāvilāsasampannā strī sattvasya rūpam upadiśyate | sā ca bhartuḥ sukhāvahā bhavati, sapatnīnāṃ duḥkhāya rāgiṇāṃ mohāya ca | tathā kṣatriyā duḥkhapraharaṇakṛtāparādhāṃ dasyusenām abhinighnatī rajaso rūpam ity upadiśyate | tena ca dasyubhir upadrutānāṃ dāryamāṇānāṃ sukhāvahā bhavati | dasyūnāṃ duḥkhāya mohāya ca | tathā ghanāghano mahākṛṣṇo meghas toyādhmāto 'valambī grasamāna iva nabho bhūmiṃ cābhivardhamānaḥ sabalākaḥ savidyudgambhīrastanitas tamaso rūpam ity upadiśyate | sa ca karṣakāṇāṃ sajjīkṛtabījopakaraṇānāṃ sukho bhavati | sa evānācchāditaśaraṇānām anupārjitabhaktasnehalavaṇānām apraguṇitatṛṇakāṣṭhānāṃ proṣitavadhūnāṃ ca duḥkho mūḍhaś ca | tad evam avasthitasvabhāvatvād ekaṃ sattvarajastamāṃsi |
atrocyate jātyantarāṇy amūni trīṇi | lakṣaṇapṛthaktvavyavasthānāt | katham iti cet tad ucyate ---

Here an objector says: Sattva, rajas, and tamas are certainly not different kinds [of things]. Why? Because they abide within their own natures. Indeed, here [in the world] a woman endowed with beauty, youth, courtesy, intelligence, goodness, memory, absence of fierce temper, charm, and grace is taught to be the form of sattva. And she brings happiness to her husband, suffering to her co-wives, and delusion to passionate suitors. Similarly, a warrior woman striking down an army of bandits who cause suffering through weapons and commit crimes is taught to be the form of rajas. And by that, she brings happiness to those harassed and torn apart by the bandits, [and] suffering and delusion to the bandits. Likewise, a massive dark raincloud swollen with water, hanging low, growing as if devouring the sky and the earth, accompanied by cranes, with lightning and deep thunder, is taught to be the form of tamas. And it is pleasant to the farmers who have prepared their seeds and equipment. Yet that very [cloud] is a source of suffering and delusion to those whose dwellings are unthatched, who have not procured their grain, oil, and salt, who have not gathered their grass and firewood, and to women whose husbands are abroad. Therefore, having their nature thus fixed, sattva, rajas, and tamas are one.
To this it is replied: These three are indeed of different kinds, because they are established by distinct characteristics. If it is asked how, it is stated: