Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 14 · Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 14.21 कैर्लिङ्गैस्त्रीन्गुणानेतानतीतो भवति प्रभो
श्लोक 14.21
अर्जुन उवाच ।
कैर्लिङ्गैस्त्रीन्गुणानेतानतीतो भवति प्रभो ।
किमाचारः कथं चैतांस्त्रीन्गुणानतिवर्तते ॥
arjuna uvāca |
kairliṅgaistrīnguṇānetānatīto bhavati prabho |
kimācāraḥ kathaṃ caitāṃstrīnguṇānativartate ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
अर्जुन ने कहा: हे प्रभु, इन तीनों गुणों से परे हुआ मनुष्य किन लक्षणों से पहचाना जाता है? उसका आचरण कैसा होता है, और वह इन तीनों गुणों को कैसे पार करता है?
Meaning in English
Arjuna said: O Lord, by what signs is one known who has gone beyond these three gunas? How does such a person behave, and how does one rise above the three gunas?
Bhagavad Gita 14.21 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| कैः | kaiḥ | by what |
| लिङ्गैः | liṅgaiḥ | signs |
| त्रीन् | trīn | three |
| गुणान् एतान् | guṇān etān | these qualities |
| अतीतः | atītaḥ | having gone beyond |
| भवति | bhavati | is |
| प्रभो | prabho | O Lord |
| किमाचारः | kim-ācāraḥ | of what conduct |
| कथम् | katham | how |
| च | ca | and |
| एतान् | etān | these |
| त्रीन् गुणान् | trīn guṇān | three qualities |
| अतिवर्तते | ativartate | does one transcend |
Explanation
Arjuna asks: O Lord, by what signs is one known who has gone beyond these three qualities? What is his conduct, and how does he transcend the three qualities? He wants a practical portrait. He asks about signs, behaviour and the means to reach that state.
Arjuna's three questions, about signs, conduct and means, recall his question in chapter 2 about the person of steady wisdom. Commentators note that the Gita repeatedly gives portraits of the ideal person: the sthitaprajna in chapter 2, the devotee in chapter 12 and here the gunatita. The answer that follows describes inner equanimity and outer behaviour, and finally names devotion as the means.
भावार्थ
अर्जुन ने कहा — हे प्रभो! इन तीनों गुणों से अतीत पुरुष किन लक्षणों से युक्त होता है, उसका आचरण कैसा होता है, और वह इन तीनों गुणों को कैसे पार करता है?
Living it today
When you admire a quality, ask practical questions: what does it look like, how does such a person act, how do I begin?
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 14.21?
Arjuna asks: O Lord, by what signs is one known who has gone beyond these three qualities? What is his conduct, and how does he transcend the three qualities? He wants a practical portrait. He asks about signs, behaviour and the means to reach that state.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 14.21?
Arjuna speaks this verse, in Chapter 14 (Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 14.21 in daily life?
When you admire a quality, ask practical questions: what does it look like, how does such a person act, how do I begin?
Reflected on verse 14.21?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.