are declared in the enumeration of qualities to be
three-fold, according to the difference of qualities.
Listen to those also duly.[302] That by which One
Eternal Essence is viewed in all things, undivided
in the divided, know that to be knowledge having the
quality of goodness. That knowledge which discerneth
all things as diverse essences of different kinds
in consequence of their separateness, know that that
knowledge hath the quality of passion. But that
which is attached to (each) single object as if it
were the whole, which is without reason, without truth,
and mean, that knowledge hath been said to be of the
quality of darkness. The action which is prescribed
(by the scriptures), (done) without attachment, performed
without desires and aversion, by one who longeth not
for (its) fruit, is said to be of the quality of goodness.
But that action which is done by one seeking objects
of desire, or by one filled with egoism, and which
is attended with great trouble, is said to be of the
quality of passion. That action which is undertaken
from delusion, without regard to consequences, loss,
injury (to others), and (one’s own) power also,
is said to be of the quality of passion. The agent
who is free from attachment, who never speaketh of
himself, who is endued with constancy and energy,
and is unmoved by success and defeat, is said to be
of the quality of goodness. The agent who is full
of affections, who wisheth for the fruit of actions,
who is covetous, endued with cruelty, and impure,
and who feeleth joy and sorrow, is declared to be of
the quality of passion.[303] The agent who is void
of application, without discernment, obstinate, deceitful,
malicious, slothful, desponding, and procrastinating,
is said to be of the quality of darkness.[304] Hear
now, O Dhananjaya, the three-fold division of intellect
and constancy, according to their qualities, which
I am about to declare exhaustively and distinctly.
The intellect which knoweth action and inaction, what
ought to be done and what ought not to be done, fear
and fearlessness, bondage and deliverance, is, O son
of Pritha, of the quality of goodness. The intellect
by which one imperfectly discerneth right and wrong,
that which ought to be done and that which ought not
to be done, is, O son of Pritha, of the quality of
passion. That intellect which, shrouded by darkness,
regardeth wrong to be right, and all things as reversed,
is, O son of Pritha, of the quality of darkness.
That unswerving constancy by which one controls the
functions of the mind, the life-breaths, and the senses,
through devotion, that constancy, is, O son of Pritha,
of the quality of goodness.[305] But that constancy,
O Arjuna, by which one holds to religion, desire,
and profit, through attachment, desiring fruit, that
constancy, O son of Pritha, is of the quality of passion.
That through which an undiscerning person abandons
not sleep, fear, sorrow, despondency, and folly, that
constancy is deemed to be of the quality of darkness.