In Bhagavad Gita 14.20, Krishna says that the embodied one who transcends these three gunas, from which the body arises, is freed from birth, death, old age and sorrow and attains immortality.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
गुणानेतानतीत्य त्रीन्
देही देहसमुद्भवान्
जन्ममृत्युजरादुःखैर्
विमुक्तोऽमृतमश्नुते ॥ १४-२० ॥
guṇānetānatītya trīn
dehī dehasamudbhavān
janmamṛtyujarāduḥkhair
vimukto’mṛtamaśnute
English transliteration gunaanetaanateetya treen
dehee dehasamudbhavaan
janmamrityujaraaduhkhair
vimukto’mritamashnute ॥ 14.20 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Having gone beyond these three gunas, from which the body arises, the embodied one is freed from birth, death, old age and sorrow, and attains immortality.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| गुणान् guṇān | the guṇas |
| एतान् etān | these |
| अतीत्य atītya | having gone beyond |
| त्रीन् trīn | three |
| देही dehī | the embodied one |
| देहसमुद्भवान् dehasamudbhavān | from which the body arises deha (body) + samudbhavān (arising) |
| जन्ममृत्युजरादुःखैः janmamṛtyujarāduḥkhaiḥ | from birth, death, old age and sorrow janma (birth) + mṛtyu (death) + jarā (old age) + duḥkhaiḥ (sorrow) |
| विमुक्तः vimuktaḥ | freed |
| अमृतम् amṛtam | immortality |
| अश्नुते aśnute | attains |
Word-wise Chanting
- gu–ṇā–ne–tā–na–tīt–ya trīn– 8 syllables gu-naa-ne-taa-na-teet-ya treen-
- de–hī de–ha–sa–mud–bha–vān | 8 syllables de-hee de-ha-sa-mud-bha-vaan
- jan–ma–mṛt–yu–ja–rā–duḥ–khair– 8 syllables jan-ma-mrit-yu-ja-raa-duh-khair-
- vi–muk–to–‘mṛ–ta–maś–nu–te || 14-20 8 syllables vi-muk-to-‘mri-ta-mash-nu-te
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 20
Context
Krishna describes the fruit of transcending the gunas (14.19–14.20).
Meaning
The guṇas are deha-samudbhava, the source of the body. One who goes beyond them is no longer identified with the body and its fate. Such a person is freed from birth, death, ageing and sorrow, and tastes amṛta, immortality.
Immortality is not the endless life of the body but freedom from identification with it. It can be tasted even now.
In Practice
Rest for a few minutes in the awareness that is not touched by the body’s changes.
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.