The Yamadūtas said: Our dear lord, how many controllers or rulers are there in this material world? How many causes are responsible for manifesting the various results of activities performed under the three modes of material nature [sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa]?
Srimad Bhagavata Purana
श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणम्
मूल श्लोकः
यमदूता ऊचुः । कति सन्तीह शास्तारो जीवलोकस्य वै प्रभो । त्रैविध्यं कुर्वतः कर्म फलाभिव्यक्तिहेतवः
yamadūtā ūcuḥ | kati santīha śāstāro jīvalokasya vai prabho | traividhyaṃ kurvataḥ karma phalābhivyaktihetavaḥ
SB 6.3.4