Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 20.301
The Lord Controls the Three Material Qualities
“There are three functions within this material world. Everything here is created, everything is maintained for some time, and everything is finally dissolved. The Lord therefore incarnates Himself as the controllers of the three qualities — sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa [goodness, passion and ignorance]. Thus the transactions of the material world take place.
What the purport teaches
- Everything in the material world is created, maintained for some time and finally dissolved.
- The Lord incarnates Himself as the controllers of sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa—goodness, passion and ignorance.
- Through this control of the three qualities, the transactions of the material world take place.
Try this today
Choose one material object around you and reflect on its creation, temporary maintenance and eventual dissolution.
Ask yourself
How does this description shape your understanding of things that are maintained only for some time?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport; the practice and question are plain words for trying the verse today.