Chapter 13, Verse 32 (Bhagavad Gita 13.32)
Sanskrit Shloka
अनादित्वान्निर्गुणत्वात्परमात्मायमव्ययः।शरीरस्थोऽपि कौन्तेय न करोति न लिप्यते
Transliteration
anāditvān nirguṇatvāt paramātmāyam avyayaḥ śharīra-stho ’pi kaunteya na karoti na lipyate
Word Meanings
anāditvāt—being without beginning; nirguṇatvāt—being devoid of any material qualities; parama—the Supreme; ātmā—soul; ayam—this; avyayaḥ—imperishable; śharīra-sthaḥ—dwelling in the body; api—although; kaunteya—Arjun, the the son of Kunti; na—neither; karoti—acts; na—nor; lipyate—is tainted
Translation
O Arjuna, being beginningless and devoid of any material qualities, this Supreme Self is imperishable. Though dwelling within the body, Shri Krishna reveals that the Self neither acts nor is tainted by the actions of the material world.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound verse, Bhagwan Shri Krishna clarifies the transcendental nature of the soul, which partakes in His own divine essence. He explains that while the physical body performs actions, the eternal spirit remains an uninvolved witness, untouched by the results of karma. By realizing this truth, the seeker transcends the cycle of birth and death, anchoring their consciousness in the pure, changeless Reality of Shri Krishna. This teaching invites every devotee to detach from material identification and perceive their true, liberated self. Ultimately, one finds that by surrendering to the Supreme Lord Krishna, the soul achieves freedom from the entanglements of maya.