Knowledge, the object of knowledge, and the knower are the three factors that motivate
action; the senses, the work and the doer are the three constituents of action.
According to the three different modes of material nature, there are three kinds of
knowledge, action and performer of action. Now hear of them from Me.
That knowledge by which one undivided spiritual nature is seen in all living entities,
though they are divided into innumerable forms, you should understand to be in the mode of
goodness.
That knowledge by which one sees that in every different body there is a different type of
living entity you should understand to be in the mode of passion.
And that knowledge by which one is attached to one kind of work as the all in all,
without knowledge of the truth, and which is very meager, is said to be in the mode of darkness.
That action which is regulated and which is performed without attachment, without love
or hatred, and without desire for fruitive results is said to be in the mode of goodness.
But action performed with great effort by one seeking to gratify his desires, and enacted
from a sense of false ego, is called action in the mode of passion.
That action performed in illusion, in disregard of scriptural injunctions, and without
concern for future bondage or for violence or distress caused to others is said to be in the mode
of ignorance.
One who performs his duty without association with the modes of material nature,
without false ego, with great determination and enthusiasm, and without wavering in success or
failure is said to be a worker in the mode of goodness.
The worker who is attached to work and the fruits of work, desiring to enjoy those fruits,
and who is greedy, always envious, impure, and moved by joy and sorrow, is said to be in the
mode of passion.
The worker who is always engaged in work against the injunctions of the scripture, who
is materialistic, obstinate, cheating and expert in insulting others, and who is lazy, always
morose and procrastinating is said to be a worker in the mode of ignorance.
O winner of wealth, now please listen as I tell you in detail of the different kinds of
understanding and determination, according to the three modes of material nature.
O son of Prtha, that understanding by which one knows what ought to be done and what
ought not to be done, what is to be feared and what is not to be feared, what is binding and what
is liberating, is in the mode of goodness.
O son of Prtha, that understanding which cannot distinguish between religion and
irreligion, between action that should be done and action that should not be done, is in the mode
of passion.
That understanding which considers irreligion to be religion and religion to be irreligion,
under the spell of illusion and darkness, and strives always in the wrong direction, O Partha, is
in the mode of ignorance.
O son of Prtha, that determination which is unbreakable, which is sustained with
steadfastness by yoga practice, and which thus controls the activities of the mind, life and
senses is determination in the mode of goodness.
But that determination by which one holds fast to fruitive results in religion, economic
development and sense gratification is of the nature of passion, O Arjuna.
And that determination which cannot go beyond dreaming, fearfulness, lamentation,
moroseness and illusion--such unintelligent determination, O son of Prtha, is in the mode of
darkness.
O best of the Bharatas, now please hear from Me about the three kinds of happiness by
which the conditioned soul enjoys, and by which he sometimes comes to the end of all distress.
That which in the beginning may be just like poison but at the end is just like nectar and
which awakens one to self-realization is said to be happiness in the mode of goodness.
That happiness which is derived from contact of the senses with their objects and which
appears like nectar at first but poison at the end is said to be of the nature of passion.
And that happiness which is blind to self-realization, which is delusion from beginning to
end and which arises from sleep, laziness and illusion is said to be of the nature of ignorance.
There is no being existing, either here or among the demigods in the higher planetary
systems, which is freed from these three modes born of material nature.
Brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas and sudras are distinguished by the qualities born of their
own natures in accordance with the material modes, O chastiser of the enemy.
Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and
religiousness--these are the natural qualities by which the brahmanas work.
Heroism, power, determination, resourcefulness, courage in battle, generosity and
leadership are the natural qualities of work for the ksatriyas.
Farming, cow protection and business are the natural work for the vaisyas, and for the
sudras there is labor and service to others.
By following his qualities of work, every man can become perfect. Now please hear from
Me how this can be done.
Books of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami