Chapter 14, Verse 23 (Bhagavad Gita 14.23)
Chapter 14: Guṇa Traya Vibhāg Yog – Yoga through Understanding the Three Modes of Material Nature
Sanskrit Shloka
उदासीनवदासीनो गुणैर्यो न विचाल्यते।गुणा वर्तन्त इत्येव योऽवतिष्ठति नेङ्गते
Transliteration
udāsīna-vad āsīno guṇair yo na vichālyate guṇā vartanta ity evaṁ yo ’vatiṣhṭhati neṅgate
Word Meanings
udāsīna-vat—neutral; āsīnaḥ—situated; guṇaiḥ—to the modes of material nature; yaḥ—who; na—not; vichālyate—are disturbed; guṇāḥ—modes of material nature; vartante—act; iti-evam—knowing it in this way; yaḥ—who; avatiṣhṭhati—established in the self; na—not; iṅgate—wavering
Translation
He who remains like one unconcerned, undisturbed by the modes of material nature, and who, knowing that the modes are solely acting, remains fixed and does not waver—such a person is situated in the transcendental state.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound verse, Bhagwan Shri Krishna instructs Arjuna on the nature of the Guna-atita, the soul who has transcended the influence of material nature. Shri Krishna reveals that the key to liberation lies in witnessing the material energy as an external force, recognizing that it is the modes—not the true Self—that interact with one another. By remaining anchored in the eternal Self, the devotee achieves a state of divine indifference toward the fluctuations of pleasure, pain, and worldly events. Shri Krishna invites every seeker to detach from the ego and rest in the supreme consciousness, where the soul remains an unmoving witness to the play of the world. This is the path of pure devotion and wisdom, leading directly to the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord.