Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 14, Verse 10

रजस्तमश्चाभिभूय सत्त्वं भवति भारत । रजः सत्त्वं तमश्चैव तमः सत्त्वं रजस्तथा

rajastamaścābhibhūya sattvaṃ bhavati bhārata | rajaḥ sattvaṃ tamaścaiva tamaḥ sattvaṃ rajastathā

Translation

Sattva arises, O Bhārata, predominating over Rajas and Tamas; and Rajas, over Sattva and Tamas; so Tamas, over Sattva and Rajas.

— Alladi Mahadeva Sastri

Word meanings

rajaḥ

mobility

tamaḥ

inertia

ca

and

abhibhūya

having overpowered

sattvam

harmony

bhavati

becomes

bhārata

O Bhārata

rajaḥ

mobility

sattvam

harmony

tamaḥ

inertia

ca

and

eva

even

tamaḥ

inertia

sattvam

harmony

rajaḥ

mobility

tathā

also

Śaṅkarācārya's commentary

When Sattva increases, predominating over both Rajas and Tamas, then, asserting itself, Sattva produces its own effect, knowledge and happiness. Similarly, when the guṇa of Rajas increases, predominating over both Sattva and Tamas, then it gives rise to its own effect, viz., action such as husbandry. Similarly, when the guṇa called Tamas increases, predominating over both Sattva and Rajas, then it produces its own effects, the covering of wisdom, etc.