बुद्धेर्भेदं धृतेश्चैव गुणतस्त्रिविधं शृणु ।
प्रोच्यमानमशेषेण पृथक्त्वेन धनञ्जय ॥ १८.२९ ॥

buddher-bhedaṁ dhṛteś-caiva guṇatas-tri-vidhaṁ śṛṇu |
procyamānam-aśeṣeṇa pṛthaktvena dhanañ-jaya || 18.29 ||

Three-fold classification of buddhiḥ (intelligence)

Krishna’s guṇa-traya-vibhāga (the three-fold quality) discussion becomes comprehensive. First he explained the three-fold division of ‘knowledge’, then of ‘activity’ and then of ‘the doer’. These are lofty concepts, which do not normally occur to anyone. The discussion gives a totally new picture to life and the human personality – what all these can mean and attain.

Krishna includes ‘intelligence’ and ‘will’ also in the guṇa-traya discussion. By this, the seeker comes to know how complex is creation, which is but a full display of Nature (prakṛti). At the same time, the inherent complexity as well as potential of human constitution is also brought forth.

By enumerating the sāttvika, rājasika and tāmasika elements of human personality, Krishna is helping the seeker assess his own inner, spiritual constitution. At the same time, it is a clear persuasion for the seeker to strive for definite improvement and elevation. Once the demeaning and hindering elements are identified clearly, the struggle to get rid of them becomes easy. The knowledge of the enriched and elevated personality equally provides the inspiration to work oneself up. The spiritual goal then becomes facile to pursue and pleasant to attain. The task remains merely that of cultivating the sāttvika characteristics, conducive to wisdom, happiness and eternality.