Indeed, the three qualities always act in an unmanifest form. The creation of those three, viz., Goodness, Darkness and Ignorance is eternal.
त्रयो गुणाः प्रवर्तन्ते ह्यव्यक्ता नित्यमेव तु। सत्त्वं रजस्तमश्चैव गुणसर्ग: सनातनः॥