Verse 2.45
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
त्रैगुण्यविषया वेदा निस्त्रैगुण्यो भवार्जुन। निर्द्वन्द्वो नित्यसत्त्वस्थो निर्योगक्षेम आत्मवान्॥
Transliteration (IAST)
trai-guṇya-viṣayā vedā nistrai-guṇyo bhavārjuna nirdvandvo nitya-sattva-stho niryoga-kṣema ātmavān
Word-by-Word Meanings
trai-guṇya-three gunas (qualities of nature)
viṣayāḥ-subject matter
nistraiguṇyaḥ-transcending the three gunas
nirdvandvaḥ-free from dualities
ātmavān-self-possessed
Translation
The Vedas deal with the three gunas. Be free from the three gunas, O Arjuna. Be free from dualities, ever established in sattva, free from acquisition and preservation, and self-possessed.
Commentary
Krishna instructs Arjuna to transcend even the Vedic framework of the three gunas (sattva, rajas, tamas). True spiritual freedom means going beyond all conditioned states, including the 'good' quality of sattva. This radical teaching points toward the unconditioned state of pure consciousness.
Themes
jnanamokshayoga