bādhya-bādhakatāṁ gataḥ

sva-māyā-guṇam āviśya

bādhya-bādhakatāṁ gataḥ

Though the Lord is without material qualities, and unborn, unmanifest, and superior to matter, he enters into matter and causes the appearance of a subordinate guṇa or dominant guṇa.

Situated (adhiṣṭhāya) in the guṇas, he seemed to take on the qualities of being oppressed by guṇas or oppressing guṇas. The quality of unequal vision is imposed on the Lord, the controller of the guṇas. 

|| 7.1.7 ||

sattvaṁ rajas tama iti

prakṛter nātmano guṇāḥ

na teṣāṁ yugapad rājan

hrāsa ullāsa eva vā

Sattva, rajas and tamas belong to prakṛti, and do not influence the Lord. O King! They do not increase or decrease simultaneously.

In his svarūpa, the Lord is at all times equal. The guṇas belong to prakṛti, and do not influence the Lord (ātmanaḥ). This means that, though prakṛti is his śakti, it does not arise from his svarūpa. 

|| 7.1.8 ||

jaya-kāle tu sattvasya

devarṣīn rajaso 'surān

tamaso yakṣa-rakṣāṁsi

tat-kālānuguṇo 'bhajat

When sattva becomes prominent he favors the devatās and sages. When rajas becomes prominent he favors the demons. When tamas becomes prominent he favors the Yakṣas and Rākṣasas. The Lord acts according to the dictates of time.

The inequality of the Lord seen everywhere is based on the inequality of the guṇas, according to their increase or diminution. Diminution and increase do not occur for one guṇa at the same time, but in sequence. Decrease is caused by oppression by other guṇas and increase is caused by oppressing other guṇas. By decrease or increase of the guṇas one can infer the decrease or increase of devatās, demons and Rākṣasas. Since the guṇas themselves are insentient, they cannot increase or decrease by themselves. The Lord must enter as their controller. When sattva becomes prominent, he favors devatās and sages. As much as sattva becomes prominent, the bodies suitable for sattva become prominent. Entering into their bodies, the Lord increases their strength, and restricts the demons and Rākṣasas. When rajas becomes prominent, he favors the demons. When tamas becomes prominent he favors the Yakṣas and Rākṣasas. He acts in accordance with time. The cause of the increase of a guṇa is time, not the Lord himself.

|| 7.1.9 ||