Shlok 59

Harati Svashritaanam Kalamayamabhayaniti Hariha - ‘Hari is he who removes the fears of time, illusion and death from devotees.’  Vishnu Dharmotar explains, ‘Devotees of Shree Krishna do not fear time, illusion or death,’ therefore, though they may seem to be with qualities (Gunamai), they are in actual fact without qualities (Gunatit).

Their actions are based on merely pleasing and attaining God’s favour as the Bhagwat Gita explains, ‘Focus your mind upon me.  Be my worshipper.  Prostrate before me.  You shall come to me alone.  I promise you truly; for you are dear to me.’  ‘The Vedas have the three Gunas for their sphere, O Arjuna.  You must be free from the three Gunas.’  The Bhagwat Purana explains the three Gunas in further detail: ‘Satva Guna leads to attainment of the heavens; Rajo Guna attains the earth; and Tamo Guna attains the hells.’

Only those who are free from these three Gunas and who are unaffected by their influences are true devotees of God.  Indeed Shatanand explains that one of the factors of Bhakti is Nirguna.  Thus one is urged to become Nirguna before becoming eligible for Bhakti of God.  The greatness of the Nirguna state is given in the following analogy by qualifying various things (in the left most column) with their level or type of attainment via the Gunas:

Furthermore, Panchratra explains, ‘Those people who are faithful to personal duty, who have unreserved Bhakti and who bear knowledge and renunciation are classed as Ekantika Sants or Ekantika Bhaktas.’  Just as a beautiful woman has no charm without her ornaments, clothing etc., Bhakti that is devoid of Dharma, Gnaan and Vairagya are without charm and attraction.  Bhakti devoid of Dharma disappears in a flash, whereas Bhakti, supported with Dharma is eternal - even at times of great strain.  Such Bhakti is a mountain of strength.

In this Shloka, Lord Swaminarayan introduces the three modes of nature - Triguna.  The knowledge of these three Gunas is very important.  It is something we should all know of as they are fundamental to changes in nature and hence people.

The three Gunas are qualities that affect the course of nature.  The Bhagwat documents that in the beginning of time, these three Gunas initiated the process of creation.  From these were born the twenty-four Tatvas (entities).  Satva Guna is considered the best quality.  It is pure and illuminating.  It is greatly desirable and from it is born goodness and so is progressive in nature.  Devotion is an example of Satva Guna.

Rajo Guna is activity.  It causes things to happen and so working is considered an example of Rajo Guna.  Finally Tamo Guna - it is all that is negative and undesirable.  It is darkness and ignorance and therefore is very much regressive.  Sleeping is therefore considered an example of Tamo Guna.

These three Gunas affect and influence the course of nature and people’s habits.  A good-natured person is so called as he has accumulated an abundance of Satva Guna through his acts.  In the same way a bad or sinful person is so because he has a predominance of Tamo Guna.  These Gunas enter and influence a person in a number of ways.  By looking, eating, hearing, drinking, touching, smelling, being with or associating with different things will all lead to a gain in that particular quality.  For example, by drinking water, one adopts Satva Guna.  By drinking tea, one develops Rajo Guna and by drinking alcohol, one attains Tamo Guna.  By drinking water that is offered to God, one becomes Nirguna - free from the influence of any Guna.

As a person comes into contact with these various types of Gunas, he becomes good or bad natured and for this precise reason it is necessary to obey one’s duty of eating, drinking and associating with those things that derive benefit.  Only those who understand this and strive to become free from the influence of the Gunas (Gunatit) attain greatness in this world and the next.  Such are the Atmanivedins who have attained such Nirguna state.