Verse 14.21

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 14.21:

अर्जुन उवाच–
कैर् लिङ्गैस् त्रीन् गुणान् एतान् अतीतो भवति प्रभो ।
किम् आचारः कथं चैतांस् त्रीन् गुणान् अतिवर्त्तते ॥ २१ ॥

arjuna uvāca–
kair liṅgais trīn guṇān etān atīto bhavati prabho |
kim ācāraḥ kathaṃ caitāṃs trīn guṇān ativarttate || 21 ||

arjuna uvāca–Arjuna said; kaiḥ–by which?; liṅgaiḥ–symptoms; trīn–three; guṇān–binding influences; etān–these; atītaḥ–transcendental; bhavati–he becomes; prabho–O Lord; kim–what?; ācāraḥ–his behaviour; katham–how?; ca–and; etān–these; trīn guṇān–three qualities; ativarttate–does he transcend.

Arjuna inquired: O Lord, what are the symptoms of one who is transcendental to these three binding forces? How does he behave? And how does he transcend the modes?

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

In the Second Chapter, Arjuna received an answer to the question: “What are the symptoms of one who is sthita-prajñā, of steady intelligence?” Now, however, he is questioning further, being eager for more specific knowledge about this. (1) “By which symptoms are those who have transcended the three guṇas to be known?” (2) “What is their conduct?” and (3) “How can one transcend the three guṇas, thereby attaining the state of transcendence?” In the Second Chapter, when Arjuna asked, “What are the symptoms of one who is sthita-prajñā?” he did not ask, “How does he transcend the guṇas?” But here he is specifically asking this question.

 

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

In this verse, Arjuna has questioned Śrī Bhagavān about the symptoms of a person who is beyond the three modes of nature. What is his conduct and what spiritual practice enabled him to attain that stage? It is very important for every human being to ask these questions, which are essential for those genuinely enthused to follow the teachings of the Gītā. The answers to these questions provide instructions on how to transcend the modes of ignorance, passion and goodness and achieve the state of nirguṇa. Thereafter, by cultivating bhakti to Śrī Bhagavān, one can attain the highest goal in the form of prema for Him.