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Bhagavad Gita 14.21

Chapter 14, Verse 21

Part of 14: Guṇa Traya Vibhāg Yogगुणत्रयविभागयोग

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

Meaning

Arjuna said, "What are the marks of one who has transcended the three qualities, O Lord? What is their conduct, and how do they go beyond these three qualities?"

Word-by-word meaning
arjunaḥ uvāchaArjun inquiredkaiḥby whatliṅgaiḥsymptomstrīnthreeguṇānmodes of material natureetāntheseatītaḥhaving transcendedbhavatiisprabhoLordkimwhatāchāraḥconductkathamhowchaandetānthesetrīnthreeguṇānmodes of material natureativartatetranscend
Commentary

Arjuna said O Lord, by what characteristics may a man be recognised as having gone beyond the three alities What is the behaviour of that Trigunatita sage (one who has gone beyond the three alities) and how does he go beyond the world and is above the Gunas Tell me that. These are the characteristics of the sage who has gone beyond the Gunas others should cultivate them. Just as a king is able to remove the grievances and sorrows of his servants, so also the Lord is able to remove the sorrows of His devotees. That is the reason why Arjuna addresses Sri Krishna as Lord and uses the term Prabhu. By using this word? Arjuna hinted to the Lord that He alone was capable of relieving his sorrows and pains. (Cf. II.54)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14, Verse 21?
Arjuna said, "What are the marks of one who has transcended the three qualities, O Lord? What is their conduct, and how do they go beyond these three qualities?"
Which chapter and verse of the Bhagavad Gita is this?
This is verse 21 of Chapter 14 (Guṇa Traya Vibhāg Yog — Yoga through Understanding the Three Modes of Material Nature) of the Bhagavad Gita, a scripture of 18 chapters and 700 verses spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna.