मार्कण्डेय उवाच एवं तु सूक्ष्मे कथिते धर्मव्याधेन भारत। ब्राह्मणः स पुनः सूक्ष्मं पप्रच्छ सुसमाहितः॥
Markandeya said : O descendant of Bharata, when the fowler expounded these abstruse points, the Brahmana with great attention asked about other subtle points.
ब्राह्मण उवाच सत्त्वस्य रजसश्चैव तमसश्च यथातथम्। गुणांस्तत्त्वेन मे ब्रूहि यथावदिह पृच्छतः॥
The Brahmana said: Truly describe to me who duly now ask you tne respective virtues of the three qualities, namely Sattva, Raja and Tama.
व्याध उवाच हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि। एषां गुणान् पृथक्त्वेन निबोध गदतो मम॥
I shall tell you what you ask me. I shall separately describe to you their respective virtues. Listen to them.
मोहात्मकं तमस्तेषां रज एषां प्रवर्तकम्। प्रकाशबहुलत्वाच्च सत्त्वं ज्याय इहोच्यते॥
Tama is characterised by illusion, Raja incites men to action, Sattva is of great splendour and therefore it is called the greatest of them all.
अविद्याबहुलो मूढः स्वप्नशीलो विचेतनः। दुर्हषीकस्तमोध्वस्तः सक्रोधस्तामसोऽलसः॥
He who is greatly under the influence of spiritual ignorance, who is foolish, senseless and given to (day) dreaming, who is idle, unenergetic, full of anger and haughtiness, is said to be under the influence of Tama.
प्रवृत्तवाक्यो मन्त्री च यो नरावयोऽनसूयकः। विधित्समानो विप्रर्षे स्तब्धो मानी स राजसः॥
O Brahmana Rishi, that excellent man who is agreeable in speech, thoughtful, free from envy, industrious in action from an eager desire to reap its fruits and of warm temperament, is said to be under the influence of Raja.
प्रकाशबहुलो धीरो निर्विधित्सोऽनसूयकः। अक्रोधनो नरो धीमान् दान्तश्चैव स सात्त्विकः॥
He who is resolute, patient, not subject to anger, free from malice and is not skillful in action from want of a selfish desire to reap its fruits and who is wise and forbearing, is said to be under the influence of Sattva.
सात्त्विकस्त्वथ सम्बुद्धो लोकवृत्तेन क्लिश्यते। यदा बुध्यति बोद्धव्यं लोकवृत्तं जुगुप्सते॥ वैराग्यस्य च रूपं तु पूर्वमेव प्रवर्तते। मृदुर्भवत्यहङ्कारः प्रसीदत्यार्जवं च यत्॥ ततोऽस्य सर्वद्वन्द्वानि प्रशाम्यन्ति परस्परम्। न चास्य संशयो नाम क्वचिद् भवति कश्चन॥
When a man endued with Sattva quality is influenced by worldliness he suffers misery but he hates worldliness when he realises its full significance. Then a feeling of indifference to worldly affairs begins to influence him. And then his pride decreases and uprightness becomes more prominent. His conflicting moral sentiments are reconciled and then selfrestraint in any matter (for him) becomes unnecessary.
शूद्रयोनौ हि जातस्य सहगुणानुपतिष्ठतः। वैश्यत्वं लभते ब्रह्मन् क्षत्रियत्वं तथैव च॥ आर्जवे वर्तमानस्य ब्राह्मण्यमभिजायते। गुणास्ते कीर्तिताः सर्वे किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि॥
O Brahmana, a man may be born as a Shudra but if he is endued with good qualities, he may attain to the state of a Vaishya. Similarly that of a Kshatriya and if he is steadfast in rectitude he may even become a Brahmana. I have described to you all these virtues, what else do you wish to learn.