1 Gita Sloka Every Day - Chapter 14 - Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga - Sloka 10

The entire content of this mail is from Swami Adidevananda's translation of Ramanuja's  Gita  Bhashya and Swami Chidbhavananda's Bhagavad Gita, both published by Ramakrishna Mission

The characteristics of the three gunas are now explained

The Function of the Gunas 5-10

1 Gita Sloka  Every Day - Chapter 14 - Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga - Sloka 10

Vibheeshana  Saranagati

Rajah tamah cha abhibhuya sattvam bhavati bharata I

Rajah sattvam tamah cha eva tamah sattvam rajah tatha II sloka 10

रजः तमः च अभिभूयः सत्त्वं भवति भारत I 

रजः सत्त्वम् तमः च एव तमः सत्त्वं रजः ततः II श्लोक 10 

Sattva asserts itself, O Bharata, by dominating over Rajas and Tamas; and Rajas over sattva and tamas; and Tamas over Sattva and Rajas

All the three gunas are inherent in the jivatman. These gunas again are interrelated like the three sides of a triangle. When any one side of the triangle is placed in the forefront, the other two get behind perforce. Even so is the case with the three gunas. In his calm and serene wakeful state, man stays in the sattva which nourishes him in joy and wisdom. The preponderance of rajas drives him in to activity. But when overwhelmed with tamas, man can either learn nor work. He yields to lethargy and sleep. In the course of a day, all the three gunas dominate by turns, over all beings.