Answer
What you are referring to are general principles. When a living entity first comes into the material world, different scriptures describe different possibilities. In some places, it is said that one may take birth as a Brahma, while in other places it is described that one may begin as a human being.
This indicates that there is not just one fixed starting point—there are many living entities entering the material world, and their situations can vary.
However, since the living entity is coming from the spiritual realm, initially the condition may be relatively sāttvic (in the mode of goodness). The desire to enjoy separately from the Lord is present, but it may not yet be heavily contaminated. Over time, through interaction with material nature, that consciousness can become further influenced by rajas (passion) and tamas (ignorance).
So while there are variations in how a living entity enters the material world, it is reasonable to understand that the initial condition can be more sāttvic, which may later degrade depending on one’s desires and actions.
