Chapter 3 · Verse 28

Path of Selfless Service

तत्त्ववित्तु महाबाहो गुणकर्मविभागयोः। गुणा गुणेषु वर्तन्त इति मत्वा न सज्जते

tattva-vit tu mahā-bāho guṇa-karma-vibhāgayoḥ guṇā guṇeṣhu vartanta iti matvā na sajjate

Word Meanings

tattva-vit — the knower of the Truth; tu — but; mahā-bāho — mighty-armed one; guṇa-karma — from guṇas and karma; vibhāgayoḥ — distinguish; guṇāḥ — modes of material nature in the shape of the senses, mind, etc; guṇeṣhu — modes of material nature in the shape of objects of perception; vartante — are engaged; iti — thus; matvā — knowing; na — never; sajjate — becomes attached

Language:

Translation

But one who knows the truth about the divisions of the guṇas and their actions, O mighty-armed one, understanding that it is merely the guṇas acting upon the guṇas, remains unattached.

Commentary

तत्त्ववित् the knower of the Truth? तु but? महाबाहो O mightyarmed? गुणकर्मविभागयोः of the divisions of alities and functions? गुणाः the alities (in the shape of senses)? गुणेषु amidst the alities (in the shape of objects)? वर्तन्ते remain? इति thus? मत्वा knowing? न not? सज्जते is attached.Commentary He who knows the truth that the Self is entirely distinct from the three Gunas and actions does not become attached to the actions. He who knows the truth about the classification of the Gunas and their respective functions understands that the alities as senseorgans move amidst the alities as senseobjects. Therefore he is not attached to the actions. He knows? I am Akarta -- I am not the doer. (Cf.XIV.23).