sattvaṁ sukhe sañjayati rajaḥ karmaṇi bhārata jñānam āvṛtya tu tamaḥ pramāde sañjayaty uta
"Sattva attaches to happiness, rajas to action, O Bharata; while tamas, veiling knowledge, attaches to negligence."
What This Means:
Each guna has its binding point: sattva attaches you to happiness, rajas attaches you to activity, and tamas (by covering knowledge) attaches you to carelessness. Know your tendencies.
Going Deeper:
Summary of binding mechanisms: 'sattvaṁ sukhe sañjayati'—sattva causes attachment to happiness. 'Rajaḥ karmaṇi'—rajas to action. 'Tamaḥ jñānam āvṛtya pramāde sañjayati'—tamas, having veiled knowledge, causes attachment to negligence. Note: tamas must first cover wisdom before it can bind to carelessness.
How To Apply This:
Self-diagnose: Are you attached to feeling good (sattva)? To staying busy and achieving (rajas)? To avoiding and escaping (tamas)? Most people have a dominant pattern. Knowing yours helps you transcend it.
Key Sanskrit Terms: