In Bhagavad Gita 14.19, Krishna says that when the seer perceives no doer other than the gunas and knows what is beyond them, he attains his being.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
नान्यं गुणेभ्यः कर्तारं
यदा द्रष्टानुपश्यति
गुणेभ्यश्च परं वेत्ति
मद्भावं सोऽधिगच्छति ॥ १४-१९ ॥
nānyaṃ guṇebhyaḥ kartāraṃ
yadā draṣṭānupaśyati
guṇebhyaśca paraṃ vetti
madbhāvaṃ so’dhigacchati
English transliteration naanyam gunebhyah kartaaram
yadaa drashtaanupashyati
gunebhyashcha param vetti
madbhaavam so’dhigachchhati ॥ 14.19 ॥
Translation / Meaning
When the seer perceives no doer other than the gunas, and knows that which is beyond the gunas, he attains My being.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| न na | not |
| अन्यम् anyam | other |
| गुणेभ्यः guṇebhyaḥ | than the guṇas |
| कर्तारम् kartāram | doer |
| यदा yadā | when |
| द्रष्टा draṣṭā | the seer |
| अनुपश्यति anupaśyati | perceives |
| गुणेभ्यः guṇebhyaḥ | than the guṇas |
| च ca | and |
| परम् param | beyond |
| वेत्ति vetti | knows |
| मद्भावम् madbhāvam | My being |
| सः saḥ | he |
| अधिगच्छति adhigacchati | attains |
Word-wise Chanting
- nān–yaṃ gu–ṇebh–yaḥ kar–tā–raṃ 8 syllables naan-yam gu-nebh-yah kar-taa-ram
- ya–dā draṣ–ṭā–nu–paś–ya–ti | 8 syllables ya-daa drash-taa-nu-pash-ya-ti
- gu–ṇebh–yaś–ca pa–raṃ vet–ti 8 syllables gu-nebh-yash-cha pa-ram vet-ti
- mad–bhā–vaṃ so–‘dhi–gac–cha–ti || 14-19 8 syllables mad-bhaa-vam so-‘dhi-gach-chha-ti
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 14 Verse 19
Context
Krishna turns to transcending the gunas (14.19–14.20).
Meaning
Freedom comes when the draṣṭā, the witness, sees clearly that all action is the play of the guṇas, and that the Self is not the doer. Knowing also what is param, beyond the guṇas, one attains mad-bhāva, the Divine’s own state.
This is the shift from identifying with our moods and actions to witnessing them. The witness is already free.
In Practice
Watch your actions today as the play of nature’s qualities, while resting in the silent witness.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 14: Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga (The Three Gunas). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.