7 Rajas is of the nature of passion, the source of thirst and attachment. It binds the soul of man to action.
8 Tamas, which is born of ignorance, darkens the soul of all men. It binds them to sleepy dullness, and then they do not watch and then they do not work.
9 Sattva binds to happiness; Rajas to action; Tamas, over-clouding wisdom, binds to lack of vigilance.
10 Sometimes Sattva may prevail over Rajas and Tamas, at others Rajas over Tamas and Sattva, and at others Tamas over Sattva and Rajas.
11 When the light of wisdom shines from the portals of the body’s dwelling, then we know that Sattva is in power.
12 Greed, busy activity, many undertakings, unrest, the lust of desire – these arise when Rajas increases.
13 Darkness, inertia, negligence, delusion – these appear when Tamas prevails.
14 If the soul meets death when Sattva prevails, then it goes to the pure regions of those who are seeking Truth.
15 If a man meets death in a state of Rajas, he is reborn amongst those who are bound by their restless activity; and if he dies in Tamas he is reborn in the wombs of the irrational.
16 Any work when it is well done bears the pure harmony of Sattva; but when done in Rajas it brings pain, and when done in Tamas it brings ignorance.
17 From Sattva arises wisdom, from Rajas greed, from Tamas negligence, delusion and ignorance.
18 Those who are in Sattva climb the path that leads on high, those who are in Rajas follow the level path, those who are in Tamas sink downwards on the lower path.
19 When the man of vision sees that the powers of nature are the only actors of this vast drama, and he beholds THAT which is beyond the powers of nature then he comes into my Being.
20 And when he goes beyond the three conditions of nature which constitute his mortal body then, free from birth, old age, and death, and sorrow, he enters into Immortality.
ARJUNA
21 How is the man known who has gone beyond the three powers of nature? What is his path; and how does he transcend the three?
KRISHNA
22 He who hates not light, nor busy activity, nor even darkness, when they are near, neither longs for them when they are far;
23 Who unperturbed by changing conditions sits apart and watches and says ‘the powers of nature go round’, and remains firm and shakes not;
24 Who dwells in his inner self, and is the same in pleasure and pain; to whom gold or stones or earth are one, and what is pleasing or displeasing leave him in peace; who is beyond both praise and blame, and whose mind is steady and quiet;
25 Who is the same in honour or disgrace, and has the same love for enemies or friends, who surrenders all selfish undertakings – this man has gone beyond the three.
26 And he who with never-failing love adores me and works for me, he passes beyond the three powers and can be one with Brahman, the ONE.
27 For I am the abode of Brahman, the never-failing fountain of everlasting life.
The law of righteousness is my law; and my joy is infinite joy.
From the Dead Sea Scrolls
4Q434, fr. 1
Bless, my soul, the Lord
for all His marvels for ever,
and may His name be blessed.
For He has delivered the soul of the poor,