Verse 14.17

Verse 14.17: “From the Sattva proceeds knowledge, and from the Rajas only greed. Heedlessness and infatuation spring from the Tamas, as also nescience itself. (265)

Commentary called Jnaneshwari by Jnaneshwar:

Therefore, O Arjuna, the Sattva quality is the root-cause of knowledge, in the way the Sun is the cause of the day. And in the same way, also know, that Rajas is the cause of grief, in the way forgetfulness of one’s own self is (the cause) of duality. Infatuation, nescience, heedlessness (pramāda)—the collection of these three faults springs from the Tamas Guna, wise one! I have preached to you separately the different signs of each of the three Gunas in a way that would make your discerning power see them clearly like the Avala fruit placed on an open palm. Thus the Rajas and Tamas are observed to be the means leading to (man’s) moral fall; none but the Sattva can lead the individual soul to knowledge. It is on account of this, that so many follow the tenets of Sattva Guna throughout their life just as some follow through the path of absolute renunciation—the fourth kind of devotion, (which consists of identification of the individual soul with Supreme Spirit).