Guṇas

prakṛtiṁ puruṣaṁ caiva viddhy anādī ubhāv api

prakṛtiṁ puruṣaṁ caiva viddhy anādī ubhāv api |
vikārāṁś ca guṇāṁś caiva viddhi prakṛti-saṁbhavān ||
kārya-kāraṇa-kartṛtve hetuḥ prakṛtir ucyate |
puruṣaḥ sukha-duḥkhānāṁ bhoktṛtve hetur ucyate ||
puruṣaḥ prakṛti-stho hi bhuṅkte prakṛtijān guṇān |
kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo’sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu ||
(Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā: 13.19–21)

“Prakṛti and the puruṣa—for certain know both to be verily beginningless (anādi), and know the transformations (vikāras) and functions (guṇas) [thereof] to be born of prakṛti. Prakṛti is said to be the cause in regard to being the producer of effects and instruments. The puruṣa is said to be the cause in regard to being the experiencer of happinesses and sufferings. The puruṣa situated in prakṛti experiences the functions (guṇas) born of prakṛti amid births in high and low wombs, and his attachment to [these] functions (guṇas) is the cause [thereof].”

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pariṇāma-tāpa-saṁskāra-duḥkhair guṇa-vṛtti-virodhāc ca duḥkham eva sarvam vivekinaḥ

pariṇāma-tāpa-saṁskāra-duḥkhair guṇa-vṛtti-virodhāc ca duḥkham eva sarvam vivekinaḥ |
(Yoga-sūtra: 2.15)

“For one possessed of discernment, everything [i.e., all worldly experience] is verily suffering because of the sufferings of [i.e., caused by] transformation [i.e., karmic reactions, alt., invariable impermanence], [the] sorrow [ensuing from such transformation], and [the] saṁskāras [created thereby], and on account of the opposition in the functioning of the guṇas.”

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kṛpālur akṛta-drohas titikṣuḥ sarva-dehinām

kṛpālur akṛta-drohas titikṣuḥ sarva-dehinām |
satya-sāro’navadyātmā samaḥ sarvopakārakaḥ ||
kāmair ahata-dhīr dānto mṛduḥ śucir akiñcanaḥ |
anīho mita-bhuk śāntaḥ sthiro mac-charaṇo muniḥ ||
apramatto gabhīrātmā dhṛtimāñ jita-ṣaḍ-guṇaḥ |
amānī māna-daḥ kalyo maitraḥ kāruṇikaḥ kaviḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.11.29-31; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 10.18–20; Bhakti Sandarbha: 199)

“[One who is] Sympathetic, non-malicious, forbearing towards all embodied beings, steadfast in truth, irreproachable in character, equipoised, supportive of all, of mind unimpaired by objects of desire, controlled, gentle, virtuous, possessionless, non-active [in worldly pursuits], a measured eater, peaceful, steady, of shelter in me, sage, non-negligent, deep in character, resolute, victorious over the six properties [of worldly existence], undesirous of respect, respectful, adept, friendly, compassionate, and wise [is the best of the sat].”

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bhakti-yogo bahu-vidho mārgair bhāvini bhāvyate

bhakti-yogo bahu-vidho mārgair bhāvini bhāvyate |
svabhāva-guṇa-mārgeṇa puṁsāṁ bhāvo vibhidyate ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 3.29.7; cited in Bhakti Sandarbha: 234)

“Bhakti-yoga is perceived to be of many types in one possessed of bhāva [i.e., in a human being] because of [different] modes [i.e., manners of functioning]. The bhāva [i.e., intent] of human beings is divided [i.e., categorized in various divisions] because of the modes [i.e., manners of functioning] of the guṇas of nature [alt., as well as because of the natures and bhāvas manifest by bhakti-yoga].”

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sarvasya hi parīkṣyante svabhāvā netare guṇāḥ

sarvasya hi parīkṣyante svabhāvā netare guṇāḥ |
atītya hi guṇān sarvān svabhāvo mūrdhni vartate ||
(Hitopadeśa: Mitra-lābha, 20)

“The natures (svabhāvas) of all are to be examined, and not, on the contrary, the qualities, since the nature (svabhāva) [of a person], surpassing all qualities, abides at the head [i.e., the svabhāva predominates in the thinking and behavior of person].”

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guṇāyanaṁ śīla-dhanaṁ kṛtajñaṁ

guṇāyanaṁ śīla-dhanaṁ kṛtajñaṁ
vṛddhāśrayaṁ saṁvṛṇate’nu sampadaḥ |
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 4.21.44)

“Good fortune continuously worships in full one who is an abode of good qualities, possessed of the wealth of good conduct, grateful, and sheltered in elders [i.e., wise and well-experienced persons].”

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mṛgayati khalo doṣaṁ

mṛgayati khalo doṣaṁ na jātu guṇam |
maṇimaya-mandira-madhye paśyati pipīlikā chidram ||
(Attributed to Madhvācārya)

“The wicked search for faults and never for qualities, just as ants look for holes inside a jeweled temple.”

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nānā-rūpātmano buddhiḥ

nānā-rūpātmano buddhiḥ svairiṇīva guṇānvitā |
tan-niṣṭhām agatasyeha kim asat-karmabhir bhavet ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 6.5.14)

“The ātmā’s intellect (buddhi), like a wanton woman [i.e., like one intent upon selfish gain through reprehensible means], is of various forms and infused with [various, mundane] qualities. What can be the use of the meaningless acts here [i.e., in this world] of one who does not know its application [i.e., one who does not discern between proper and improper application of the intellect]?”

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antaḥ-śuddhir bahiḥ-śuddhis

antaḥ-śuddhir bahiḥ-śuddhis tapaḥ-śānty-adayas tathā |
amī guṇāḥ prapadyante hari-sevābhikāminām ||
(Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu: 1.2.263)

“Internal purity, external purity, austerity, peacefulness, and so forth—all these qualities take shelter in those who are desirous of serving Hari.”

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bahu-rūpa ivābhāti

bahu-rūpa ivābhāti māyayā bahu-rūpayā |
ramamāṇo guṇeṣv asyā mamāham iti manyate ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 2.9.2)

“The ātmā [i.e., “self”] appears as if to be of many [different] forms [i.e., those of a child, an elder, etc., and those of a human, a deva, an animal, etc.] through māyā, which is of many [different] forms, and, enjoying amid its [i.e., māyā’s] guṇas [i.e., within various bodies, etc.], thinks of ‘my’ and ‘I’ [i.e., identifies with these forms fabricated by māyā].”

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