Chapter 14, Verse 21 (Bhagavad Gita 14.21)
Chapter 14: Guṇa Traya Vibhāg Yog – Yoga through Understanding the Three Modes of Material Nature
Sanskrit Shloka
अर्जुन उवाचकैर्लिंगैस्त्रीन्गुणानेतानतीतो भवति प्रभो।किमाचारः कथं चैतांस्त्रीन्गुणानतिवर्तते
Transliteration
arjuna uvācha kair liṅgais trīn guṇān etān atīto bhavati prabho kim āchāraḥ kathaṁ chaitāns trīn guṇān ativartate
Word Meanings
arjunaḥ uvācha—Arjun inquired; kaiḥ—by what; liṅgaiḥ—symptoms; trīn—three; guṇān—modes of material nature; etān—these; atītaḥ—having transcended; bhavati—is; prabho—Lord; kim—what; āchāraḥ—conduct; katham—how; cha—and; etān—these; trīn—three; guṇān—modes of material nature; ativartate—transcend
Translation
Arjuna asked: O Lord, what are the characteristics of one who has transcended these three modes of material nature? How does such a person conduct themselves, and by what means do they transcend these modes?
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound inquiry, Arjuna seeks to understand the nature of the 'Gunatita'—the soul who has risen above the binding forces of Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is being petitioned to reveal the practical path of liberation from the material entanglement that chains the soul to the cycle of birth and death. By understanding these divine markers, a devotee learns how to detach from the duality of pleasure and pain, honor and dishonor, thus remaining established in the transcendental consciousness of the Supreme. This wisdom acts as a bridge for the seeker, transforming their existence from one governed by karma into one surrendered entirely to the lotus feet of Shri Krishna. Ultimately, transcending these modes is the gateway to eternal communion with the Lord, freeing the practitioner from the illusory influence of Maya.