Bhagavad Gītā Chapter Fourteen Title
guṇa traya vibhāga yogaḥ
The Yoga of the Distinction of the Three Qualities.
guṇa - an ingredient or constituent or attribute of nature; a property or characteristic of all created things; qualities; a quality, peculiarity, attribute or property; the peculiar properties of the letterstraya - the threevibhāga - distinctionyoga - the act of yoking, joining, attaching, harnessing; a yoke, team, vehicle, conveyance; employment, use, application, performance; a means, expedient, device, way, manner, methodCommentaries and Reflections
Commentary by TKV Desikachar:
“Its the combination (of Guṇa) thats important.
There is the simile of the oil lamp in the Sāṃkhya Kārikā Śloka 13.
The cotton wick – Light Property (Sattva)
The basin or bowl – Heavy Property (Tamas)
The oil – Flows this way or that (Rajas)
The moment you dip the cotton in the oil it takes on that property.
Thus the Guṇa work together to produce the flame.”
– TKV Desikachar Madras November 24th 1979 on Sāṃkhya and Yoga