Verse 14.23
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
उदासीनवदासीनो गुणैर्यो न विचाल्यते | गुणा वर्तन्त इत्येव योऽवतिष्ठति नेङ्गते ||२३||
Transliteration (IAST)
udāsīna-vad āsīno guṇair yo na vicālyate | guṇā vartanta ity evaṁ yo 'vatiṣṭhati neṅgate ||23||
Word-by-Word Meanings
udāsīna-vat-like one indifferent/neutral
āsīnaḥ-seated/established
guṇaiḥ-by the gunas
na vicālyate-is not disturbed
guṇāḥ vartante-the gunas operate
avatiṣṭhati-remains firm
na iṅgate-does not waver
Translation
He who sits like one unconcerned, undisturbed by the gunas, who knows that the gunas alone act, remains firm and does not waver.
Commentary
Shankaracharya explains that the guṇātīta is established in the witness-consciousness (sākṣī-caitanya). He observes the play of the gunas as one watches a drama - present but uninvolved. The phrase 'guṇā vartante' echoes 3.28 where Krishna taught that 'gunas act upon gunas.' Madhva notes that this steadfastness comes from constant meditation on the Lord who is beyond all gunas.
Themes
jnanayogaatman