Sāṃkhya Kārikā verse 13
सत्त्वं लघु प्रकाशकमिष्टमुपष्टम्भकं चलं च रजः । गुरु वरणकमेव तमः प्रदीपवच्चार्थतो वृत्तिः ॥ १३ ॥sattvaṃ laghu prakāśakam-iṣṭam-upaṣṭambhakaṃ calaṃ ca rajaḥ |
guru varaṇakam-eva tamaḥ pradīpavat-ca-arthataḥ vṛttiḥ ||
Commentaries and Reflections
Commentary by S Ramaswami:
Sloka 13 is more or less a summary of the previous two Sloka on the nature and apparition of the Guna.
sattvam- Sattva is that which is.
laghu- Lightness of mind and body. Not heavy in body and mind.
prakāśakam- That which illuminates or is illuminating.
iṣṭam- That which is desirable (Sukham).
upaṣṭaṃbhakam- That which is stimulating mentally and physically. I.e. A red rag to a bull.
calam- Physical activity. That which is movement.
ca- And
rajaḥ- Is Rajas.
guru- Heaviness.
varaṇakam- That which envelops and surrounds.
eva- Only that.
tamaḥ- Is Tamas.
pradīpavat- Just like a lamp.
ca- And
arthataḥ- Their object is to (Arthatā)
vṛttiḥ- Function, activity.
Compared to the functioning of a lamp. With the wick, oil and light.
All have to work together, to make the flame give the light.
Sattva can be compared to the light.
RAJAS- oil
TAMAS- wick
All the three Guṇa are present in all things.
It is developing Sattva to understand the nature of Rajas and Tamas, which is important.