The material world is of three modes of material nature, goodness, passion and ignorance. So if we acquire the quality of goodness, there is chance of enlightenment, knowledge, so that again fire can be generated. But if we fall down on the water, practically it is finished. Ignorance. So sattva-guтa, rajo-guтa, tamo-guтa. So in our fallen condition, mostly the rajo-guna and tamo-guna is very prominent, in our fallen condition, in this material condition. So symptoms of rajo-guna and tamo-guna means material desires and greediness. And sattva-guna means enlightenment. If we cultivate the sattva-guna quality, just means, if we cultivate the brahminical qualification, that is the platform of sattva-guna. So that is described in the Bhagavad-gita, satyam samo damas titiksa arjavam jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.42]. If we cultivate this kind of life, to be truthful, to be peaceful, to be tolerant, to be men of wisdom, knowledge, faith in God and the sastras, in this way there are nine to twelve qualities. If we acquire that qualities, then we become brahmana.
Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 9.3, Toronto, 20 June, 1976