Devibhagavatapurana 3.9: navamo'dhyāyaḥ | guṇānāṃ guṇaparijñānavarṇanam

3.9.1

nārada uvāca |
guṇānāṃ lakṣaṇaṃ tāta bhavatā kathitaṃ kila |
na tṛpto'smi pibanmiṣṭaṃ tvanmukhātpracyutaṃ rasam ||

3.9.2

guṇānāṃ tu parijñānaṃ yathāvadanuvarṇaya |
yenāhaṃ paramāṃ śāntimadhigacchāmi cetasi ||

3.9.3

vyāsa uvāca |
iti pṛṣṭastu putreṇa nāradena mahātmanā |
uvāca ca jagatkartā rajoguṇasamudbhavaḥ ||

Vyâsa said:-- O King! The Creator of the world, Brahmâ, originated from the Rajo Guna, asked by his high minded son Nârada, began to speak in the following terms.

3.9.4

brahmovāca |
śṛṇu nārada vakṣyāmi guṇānāṃ parivarṇanam |
samyaṅ nāhaṃ vijānāmi yathāmati vadāmi te ||

O Nârada! I myself do not possess fully the complete knowledge of the three qualities; but, as far as I know, I am telling that to you.

3.9.5

sattvaṃ tu kevalaṃ naiva kutrāpi parilakṣyate |
miśrībhāvāttu teṣāṃ vai miśratvaṃ pratibhāti vai ||

The pure Sattva quality is not found alone to exist anywhere; it manifests itself always, in mixed condition, in combination with the other qualities.

3.9.6

yathā kācidvarā nārī sarvabhūṣaṇabhūṣitā |
hāvabhāvayutā kāmaṃ bhartuḥ prītikarī bhavet ||

As a beautiful woman, well decorated with ornaments and endowed with amorous gestures, gives delight, on the one hand, to her husband, father, mother and friends; and, on the other hand, becomes a source of pain and delusion to her rival wives, so the Sattva quality, personified as a beautiful woman, engenders the Sâttvic happiness of the mind to some individual, at one time, and at another time becomes a source of pain to the same individual (or at one and the same time becomes a source of happiness to one and a source of pain to another.) Thus the Rajas or the Tamas quality, personified respectively as a beautiful woman becomes a source of pain or delusion to an individual at one time, and at another time, a source of happiness to the same man. So it is easily seen that one quality cannot remain single; it remains in union with the other qualities.
Note:-- It is very possible that a man, possessing the Sâttvic quality at any time, can be said not to possess only the Sâttvic quality but also the Rajas and the Tamas to a certain degree. At any subsequent time the Rajas might get preponderance, and that man may be in circumstances requiring money or so forth; but, due to his Sattva quality before hand he did not collect money and therefore he feels pain afterwards. So with the Rajas. Or it may be thus:-- Suppose an earning member is Sâttvic. He earns just sufficient to meet his wants. But his family members require more money, for they are Râjasic. Therefore the earning member is happy for his Sâttvic quality; but the other members are unhappy for his Sâttvic quality. A man is, as it were, wedded to the three wives, Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas.

3.9.7

mātāpitrostathā saiva bandhuvargasya prītidā |
duḥkhaṃ mohaṃ sapatnīṣu janayatyapi saiva hi ||

3.9.8

evaṃ sattvena tenaiva strītvamāpāditena ca |
rajasastamasaścaiva janitā vṛttiranyathā ||

3.9.9

rajasā strīkṛtenaiva tamasā ca tathā punaḥ |
anyonyasya samāyogādanyathā pratibhāti vai ||

3.9.10

avasthānātsvabhāveṣu na vai jātyantarāṇi ca |
lakṣyate viparītāni yogānnārada kutracit ||

O Nârada! When the three qualities remain each in their own real natures, then the effects produced by them also remain always the same; no changes are perceived owing to the difference of time or person. But when they get combined, then each of them produces effects sometimes counter to their natures.

3.9.11

yathā rūpavatī nārī yauvanena vibhūṣitā |
lajjāmādhuryayuktā ca tathā vinayasaṃyutā ||

A young beautiful woman, shy, modest and of sweet qualities, well versed in her religious learning, and full of good behaviour, skilled in love practices and full of sweet sentiments becomes a source of loving delight to her beloved and also a source of pain to her rival wives so each of the three qualities assume no doubt, different aspects according to differences in time and in the nature of the person.
O Nârada! As one woman gives pain and delusion to her rival wives and gives pleasure to her husband and friends, so the Sattva quality, when perverted, gives pain and delusion to the persons.

3.9.12

kāmaśāstravidhijñā ca dharmaśāstre'pi sammatā |
bhartuḥprītikarī bhūtvā sapatnīnāṃ ca duḥkhadā ||

3.9.13

mohaduḥkhasvabhāvasthā sattvasthetyucyate janaiḥ |
tathā sattvaṃ vikurvāṇamanyabhāvaṃ vibhāti vai ||

3.9.14

corairupadrutānāṃ hi sādhūnāṃ sukhadā bhavet |
duḥkhā mūḍhā ca dasyūnāṃ saiva senā tathāguṇā ||

As the police sepoys and constables are, on the one hand, delight to the saints, troubled by thieves, and, on the other hand, sources of pain and confusion to the thieves and robbers; again as the heavy shower of rain in a pitch dark night, in the rainy season, when the sky over clouded, and when there are flashes of lightning and thunder, is on the one hand, a source of highest delight to a farmer, who has all seeds and necessary things and implements, and, on the other hand is a source of pain to the unfortunate householder, whose house is not yet completely thatched with grass or who has not been able to collect his beams and grass for necessary roofing, and a source of utter bewildering confusion to the young woman, whose husband is abroad expected back at that time, so the three Gunas produce contrary results when perverted by contact with the remaining Gunas, instead what they would have produced, had they not been perverted so.

3.9.15

viparītapratītiṃ vai varjayanti svabhāvataḥ |
yathā ca durdinaṃ jātaṃ mahāmeghaghanāvṛtam ||

3.9.16

vidyutstanitasaṃyuktaṃ timireṇāvaguṇṭhitam |
siñcadbhūmiṃ pravarṣadvai tamorūpamudāhṛtam ||

3.9.17

yadetatkarṣakāṇāṃ vai tadevātīva durdinam |
bījopaskarayuktānāṃ sukhadaṃ prabhavatyuta ||

3.9.18

apracchannagṛhāṇāṃ ca durbhagānāṃ viśeṣataḥ |
tṛṇakāṣṭhagṛhītānāṃ duḥkhadaṃ gṛhamedhinām ||

3.9.19

proṣitabhartṛkāṇāṃ vai mohadaṃ pravadantyapi |
svabhāvasthā guṇāḥ sarve viparītā vibhānti vai ||

3.9.20

lakṣaṇāni punasteṣāṃ śṛṇu putra bravīmyaham |
laghuprakāśakaṃ sattvaṃ nirmalaṃ viśadaṃ sadā ||

O Child! Again I speak to you of the characteristics of the the Gunas. The Sattva guna is pure, clear, illumining, light (not heavy) white. When the senses, eyes, etc., and the limbs are felt very light (without any heaviness) and the heart and brain clear, when there is dispassion towards the Râjasic and the Tâmasic enjoyments, know then that the Sattva quality has grown in preponderance in a body. When there is a tendency to yawn, when there is rigidity and suppression of the functions of faculties and when one feels drowsiness, consider that the Râjasic quality has gone to excess. Again, when one seeks after quarrels and goes to another village, one is always restless and ready to fight, when one feels heaviness in body, as if wrapped by a very heavy darkness, when one's limbs and senses are heavy and obscure, when one's mind is vacant, and when one does not like to go to sleep, know that the Tamas has increased too much, Nârada!

3.9.21

yadāṅgāni laghūnyeva netrādīnīndriyāṇi ca |
nirmalaṃ ca tathā ceto gṛhṇāti viṣayānna tān ||

3.9.22

tadā sattvaṃ śarīre vai mantavyañca samutkaṭam |
jṛmbhāṃ stambhaṃ ca tandrāṃ ca calañcaiva rajaḥ punaḥ ||

3.9.23

yadā tadutkaṭaṃ jātaṃ dehe yasya ca kasyacit |
kaliṃ mṛgayate kartuṃ gantuṃ grāmāntaraṃ tathā ||

3.9.24

calacittasya so'tyarthaṃ vivāde codyatastathā |
gurumāvaraṇaṃ kāmaṃ tamo bhavati tadyadā ||

3.9.25

tadāṅgāni gurūṇyāśu prabhavantyāvṛtāni ca |
indriyāṇi manaḥ śūnyaṃ nidrāṃ naivābhivāñchati ||

3.9.26

guṇānāṃ lakṣaṇānyevaṃ vijñeyānīha nārada |
nārada uvāca |
vibhinnalakṣaṇāḥ proktāḥ pitāmaha guṇāstrayaḥ ||

Nârada said:-- O Father! You have described the different characteristics of the three Gunas; but I cannot understand how they act all in conjunction?

3.9.27

kathamekatra saṃsthāne kāryaṃ kurvanti śāśvatam |
parasparaṃ militvā hi vibhinnāḥ śatravaḥ kila ||

As those who are enemies to one another do not work united, so these Gunas, of opposite characteristics, are enemies, as it were, to one another; how can, then, they act in unison? Kindly explain this to me.

3.9.28

ekatrasthāḥ kathaṃ kāryaṃ kurvantīti vadasva me |
brahmovāca |
śṛṇu putra pravakṣyāmi guṇāste dīpavṛttayaḥ ||

Brahmâ said:-- O Nârada! The three Gunas may be likened to a lamp. As a lamp manifests a certain object, so these three qualities united do manifest or reveal a certain thing. See the wick, oil, and flame are all of different characteristics; though the oil goes against fire, still it unites with the fire. The oil, wick and fire though running against each other, all these united, serve the one common purpose of illumining, revealing a certain object.

3.9.29

pradīpaśca yathā kāryaṃ prakarotyarthadarśanam |
vartistailaṃ yathārciśca viruddhāśca parasparam ||

3.9.30

viruddhaṃ hi tathā tailamagninā saha saṅgatam |
tailaṃ vartivirodhyeva pāvako'pi parasparam ||

3.9.31

ekatrasthāḥ padārthānāṃ prakurvanti pradarśanam |
nārada uvāca |
evaṃ prakṛtijāḥ proktā guṇāḥ satyavatīsuta ||

So, O Nârada! All the three qualities, though of contrary natures, go to prove the same thing.
Nârada said:-- O Son of Satyavatî! The lotus born Brahmâ thus described the three qualities, as born of Prakriti; and they are the causes of this Universe. What I heard of you about the nature of Prakriti, I have now described before you.

3.9.32

viśvasya kāraṇaṃ te vai mayā pūrvaṃ yathā śrutam |
vyāsa uvāca |
ityuktaṃ nāradenātha mama sarvaṃ savistaram ||

Vyâsa said:-- O King! What you asked me, I asked before the same to Nârada and he described thus (as I told you above) to me about the characteristics and the effects of the three Gunas in regular order and in detail.

3.9.33

guṇānāṃ lakṣaṇaṃ sarvaṃ kāryaṃ caiva vibhāgaśaḥ |
ārādhyā paramā śaktiryayā sarvamidaṃ tatam ||

O King! Wherever in the S’âstras whatever is said, the essence of all that is this -- that the Highest Energy, the Supreme Force, the Great Goddess who is pervading the Universe, is always with qualities and without qualities, according to the differences in the manifestation. This Supreme Force is to be worshipped with the highest devotion.

3.9.34

saguṇā nirguṇā caiva kāryabhede sadaiva hi |
akartā puruṣaḥ pūrṇo nirīhaḥ paramo'vyayaḥ ||

The Brahmân, the Purusa (the Supporter, the Ultimate Substratum) the Highest Energy considered as the Male Principle though It is Undecaying, Supreme and Full, is still without any desires or emotions. It is not able to accomplish any action (without the help of its inherent force); this Mahâmâyâ, the Supreme Force is doing all the functions, real and unreal, of the universe.

3.9.35

karotyeṣā mahāmāyā viśvaṃ sadasadātmakam |
brahmā viṣṇustathā rudraḥsūryaścandraḥ śacīpatiḥ ||

Brahmâ, Visnu, Rudra, the Sun, Moon, Indra, the twin Asvins, the Vasus, Visvakarmâ, Kuvera, Varuna, Fire, Air, Pûsâ, the Sadânan, and Ganesa all are united with S’akti and can do their respective functions; else they are unable to move themselves. Therefore O king! Know that Supreme Goddess Mahâmâyâ as the cause of this Universe.

3.9.36

aśvinau vasavastvaṣṭā kubero yādasāṃ patiḥ |
vahnirvāyustathā pūṣā senānīśca vināyakaḥ ||

3.9.37

sarve śaktiyutāḥ śaktāḥ kartuṃ kāryāṇi svāni ca |
anyathā te'pyaśaktā vai praspanditumanīśvarāḥ ||

3.9.38

sā caiva kāraṇaṃ rājan jagataḥ parameśvarī |
samārādhaya tāṃ bhūpa kuru yajñaṃ janādhipa ||

O Lord of men! You worship this Goddess, perform sacrifices in honour of Her and worship Her with the highest devotion.

3.9.39

pūjanaṃ parayā bhaktyā tasyā eva vidhānataḥ |
mahālakṣmīrmahākālī tathā mahāsarasvatī ||

O king! That Mahâmâyâ is Mahâ Laksmî, She is Mahâ Kâlî, She is Mahâ Sarasvatî; She is the Goddess of all the bhûtas and She is the Cause of all causes.

3.9.40

īśvarī sarvabhūtānāṃ sarvakāraṇakāraṇam |
sarvakāmārthadā śāntā sukhasevyā dayānvitā ||

That all peaceful, easily worshipped and the ocean of mercy, when worshipped, fulfills all the desires of Her devotees; what to say, the mere utterance of Her name is sufficient for the granting of the desires.

3.9.41

nāmoccāraṇamātreṇa vāñchitārthaphalapradā |
devairārādhitā pūrvaṃ brahmaviṣṇumaheśvaraiḥ ||

In days of yore Brahmâ, Visnu, Mahes'vara and all the Devas and many other self controlled ascetics worshipped Her to attain liberation.

3.9.42

mokṣakāmaiśca vividhaistāpasairvijitātmabhiḥ |
aspaṣṭamapi yannāma prasaṅgenāpi bhāṣitam ||

O king! What shall I speak now about Her more than this:-- If one takes Her name even with indistinctness, She grants the desired purposes, even if they are quite unattainable.

3.9.43

dadāti vāñchitānarthāndurlabhānapi sarvathā |
ai ai iti bhayārtena dṛṣṭvā vyāghrādikaṃ vane ||

In the midst of forest, on the sight of tigers and other ferocious animals, if one becoming afraid, cries aloud Her seed mantra (twice) “Ai, Ai” without the Vindu (incorrectly) instead of “Aim, Aim” She grants immediately his desires.

3.9.44

binduhīnamapītyuktaṃ vāñchitaṃ pradadāti vai |
tatra satyavratasyaiva dṛṣṭānto nṛpasattama ||

O best of kings! There is an example of Satyavrata on this point. That the mere utterance of the name of Bhagavatî gives unforeseen results, has been witnessed by us and other high minded Munis. Also in the assembly of the Brâmanas I have heard fully many sages quoting in detail many instances on the above point.

3.9.45

pratyakṣa eva cāsmākaṃ munīnāṃ bhāvitātmanām |
brāhmaṇānāṃ samājeṣu tasyodāharaṇaṃ budhaiḥ ||

3.9.46

kathyamānaṃ mayā rājañchrutaṃ sarvaṃ savistaram |
anakṣaro mahāmūrkho nāmnā satyavrato dvijaḥ ||

O king! There was a Brahmân, named Satyavrata, quite illiterate, a thorough block-head. Once he heard the letter “Ai, Ai” being uttered by a pig; and in course of a talk he himself uttered incidentally that letter and thereby became the one of the best Pundits.
N. B. – “Aim” is the seed mantra of Sarasvatî, the Goddess of learning.

3.9.47

śrutvā'kṣaraṃ kolamukhātsamuccārya svayaṃ tataḥ |
binduhīnaṃ prasaṅgena jāto'sau vibudhottamaḥ ||

3.9.48

aikāroccāraṇāddevī tuṣṭā bhagavatī tadā |
cakāra kavirājaṃ taṃ dayārdrā parameśvarī ||

The Goddess Devî, the Ocean of mercy, hearing the letter “Ai” being pronounced by that Brahmin, became very glad and made him the best of the poets.
Here ends the Ninth Chapter of the 3rd Skandha on the characteristics of the Gunas in S’rîmad Devî Bhâgavatam, the Mahâ Purânam 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyâsa.

3.9.48.c1

iti śrīmaddevībhāgavate mahāpurāṇe'ṣṭādaśasāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ tṛtīyaskandhe guṇaparijñānavarṇanaṃ nāma navamo'dhyāyaḥ ||