विशेषाविशेष लिङ्गमात्रालिङ्गानि गुणपर्वाणि ॥2.19॥

viśeṣāviśeṣa liṅgamātrāliṅgāni guṇaparvāṇi॥

In their process of slow transformation, the triguṇas pass through different phases namely:

Significant, Insignificant, Primal, Unevolved.

Bhagavān describes the counteracting guṇās as follows:

रजस्तमश्चाभिभूय सत्त्वं भवति भारत।

रजः सत्त्वं तमश्चैव तमः सत्त्वं रजस्तथा॥१४.१०॥

rajastamaścābhibhūya sattvaṃ bhavati bhārata|

rajaḥ sattvaṃ tamaścaiva tamaḥ sattvaṃ rajastathā॥Gītā 14.10॥

Rajoguṇa dominates now and then by overshadowing the other two guṇās. Similarly, sattva dominates sometimes by overpowering the other two. At times by prevailing upon the other two, tamas dictates terms.

When jīva experiences wisdom, gladness, peacefulness, joy, etc, Sattva is said to be dominating. When he experiences passion, restlessness, obsession, excitement, craze, strong desire to acquire, possess and accumulate, Rajas is said to be dominant. When he experiences ignorance, delusion, despondency, sloth, idleness, inactivity, indolence, laziness, Tamas is said to be in dictating terms. Sattva binds man to joy or happiness mode. Rajoguṇa enchains him to restlessness. Tamas yokes him to indolence. Thus none of the Guṇas leads him to complete freedom.