Three ways to hold a life

1 · Chapter 14 · Shloka 11

When the wisdom-light streameth forth from all the gates of the body, then it may be known that Harmony is increasing.

How to tell sattva is up: a kind of clarity, a light in every gate of the body.

2 · Chapter 14 · Shloka 12

Greed, outgoing energy, undertaking of actions, restlessness, desire—these are born of the increase of Motion, O best of the Bhâratas.

Rajas: greed, restlessness, the pull to start new things. Productive-looking, rarely calm.

3 · Chapter 14 · Shloka 13

Darkness, stagnation and heedlessness and also delusion—these are born of the increase of Inertia, O joy of the Kurus.

Tamas: fog, inertia, heedlessness — not rest, the loss of the capacity to move.

4 · Chapter 18 · Shloka 20

That by which one indestructible Being is seen in all beings, inseparate in the separated, know thou that knowledge as pure.

Sattvic knowledge sees one undivided being across the many; rajasic knowledge sees only the separateness.

5 · Chapter 18 · Shloka 23

An action which is ordained, done by one undesirous of fruit, devoid of attachment, without love or hate, that is called pure.

Sattvic action is done because it is right — no craving for the result, no aversion to the task.

6 · Chapter 14 · Shloka 22

He, O Pândava, who hateth not radiance, nor outgoing energy, nor even delusion, when present, nor longeth after them, absent;

The freed person neither hates the three when they come nor longs for them when they go — they have stopped identifying with the weather.