Urdhvam gacchanti sattva-stha madhye tishthanti rajasah, jaghanya-guna-vritti-stha adho gacchanti tamasah
Those situated in sattva gradually go upward to higher planes. Those in rajas remain in the middle. Those in the abominable mode of tamas go downward. The three gunas create a vertical cosmology of ascent, stasis, and descent.
- •Sattva leads to ascent in consciousness and existence
- •Rajas maintains one in the middle realm of activity
- •Tamas leads to degradation and downward evolution