FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.15.25

रजस्तमश्च सत्त्वेन सत्त्वं चोपशमेन च । एतत्सर्वं गुरौ भक्त्या पुरुषो ह्यञ्जसा जयेत् ॥ २५ ॥
rajas tamaś ca sattvena
[rajas tamash cha sattvena]
sattvaṁ copaśamena ca
[sattvam chopashamena cha]
etat sarvaṁ gurau bhaktyā
[etat sarvam gurau bhaktyaa]
puruṣo hy añjasā jayet
[purusho hy anjasaa jayet]
rajaḥ tamaḥ — the modes of passion and ignorance ca — and sattvena — by developing the mode of goodness sattvam — the mode of goodness ca — also upaśamena — by giving up attachment ca — and etat — these sarvam — all gurau — unto the spiritual master bhaktyā — by rendering service in devotion puruṣaḥ — a person hi — indeed añjasā — easily jayet — can conquer.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
rajas tamaś ca sattvena
rajaḥ tamaḥ
the modes of passion and ignorance
ca
and
sattvena
by developing the mode of goodness
sattvaṁ copaśamena ca
sattvam
the mode of goodness
ca
also
upaśamena
by giving up attachment
ca
and
etat sarvaṁ gurau bhaktyā
etat
these
sarvam
all
gurau
unto the spiritual master
bhaktyā
by rendering service in devotion
puruṣo hy añjasā jayet
puruṣaḥ
a person
hi
indeed
añjasā
easily
jayet
can conquer.
One must conquer the modes of passion and ignorance by developing the mode of goodness, and then one must become detached from the mode of goodness by promoting oneself to the platform of śuddha-sattva. All this can be automatically done if one engages in the service of the spiritual master with faith and devotion. In this way one can conquer the influence of the modes of nature.

Just by treating the root cause of an ailment, one can conquer all bodily pains and sufferings. Similarly, if one is devoted and faithful to the spiritual master, he can conquer the influence of sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa very easily. Yogīs and jñānīs practice in many ways to conquer the senses, but the bhakta immediately attains the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead through the mercy of the spiritual master. Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo. If the spiritual master is favorably inclined, one naturally receives the mercy of the Supreme Lord, and by the mercy of the Supreme Lord one immediately becomes transcendental, conquering all the influences of sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa within this material world. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā ( sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate ). If one is a pure devotee acting under the directions of the guru, one easily gets the mercy of the Supreme Lord and thus becomes immediately situated on the transcendental platform. This is explained in the next verse.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
One conquers rajas and tamas by a predominance of sattva. One conquers sattva by being indifferent to the results of actions. One conquers all of these obstacles quickly and easily by devotion to guru. One conquers rajas and tamas by greater degree of sattva. One conquers sattva by indifference to the results of action. One conquers all obstacles quickly and easily by bhakti to guru. This is like taking a strong medicine which cures all diseases. For the jñānīs, destruction of lust and other obstacles is a sought result of devotion to guru. For the pure devotees, destruction of lust is a secondary result of devotion to guru. That is the difference.
Conquer passion and ignorance by developing goodness, then transcend even goodness to reach śuddha-sattva — pure transcendence. All of this happens automatically by service to the spiritual master. Bhakti collapses the long ladder into one step.
Reflection Questions
  • Are you trying to climb the modes mode-by-mode when service to a guru would shortcut the climb?
  • What act of guru-sevā could you do today that you have been postponing?
📝 My note

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