Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14, Verse 17
सत्त्वात्सञ्जायते ज्ञानं रजसो लोभ एव च | प्रमादमोहौ तमसो भवतोऽज्ञानमेव च ||
sattvāt sañjāyate jñānaṁ rajaso lobha eva ca pramāda-mohau tamaso bhavato 'jñānam eva ca
From sattva arises knowledge, from rajas arises greed, and from tamas arise negligence, delusion, and ignorance.
Krishna summarizes what arises from each guna: 'Sattvāt sañjāyate jñānaṁ'—from sattva arises (sañjāyate) knowledge (jñānam). 'Rajaso lobha eva ca'—from rajas arises greed (lobhaḥ). 'Pramāda-mohau tamaso bhavato 'jñānam eva ca'—from tamas arise (bhavataḥ) negligence (pramāda), delusion (mohau), and ignorance (ajñānam). This verse summarizes the key characteristics that arise from each guna: sattva brings knowledge and clarity, rajas brings greed and desire, tamas brings negligence, delusion, and ignorance. Understanding this helps you recognize which guna is active by observing what arises in your mind and actions. The goal is to cultivate sattva to gain knowledge, then transcend all three to achieve true freedom.