In Bhagavad Gita 14.21, Arjuna asks by what signs one who has transcended the three gunas is known, how he behaves and how he goes beyond them.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
कैर्लिङ्गैस्त्रीन्गुणानेतान्
अतीतो भवति प्रभो
किमाचारः कथं चैतांस्
त्रीन्गुणानतिवर्तते ॥ १४-२१ ॥
kairliṅgaistrīnguṇānetān
atīto bhavati prabho
kimācāraḥ kathaṃ caitāṃs
trīnguṇānativartate
English transliteration kairlingaistreengunaanetaan
ateeto bhavati prabho
kimaachaarah katham chaitaams
treengunaanativartate ॥ 14.21 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Arjuna said: By what signs, O Lord, is one known who has gone beyond these three gunas? What is his conduct, and how does he go beyond these three gunas?
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| कैः kaiḥ | by what |
| लिङ्गैः liṅgaiḥ | signs |
| त्रीन् trīn | three |
| गुणान् guṇān | guṇas |
| एतान् etān | these |
| अतीतः atītaḥ | gone beyond |
| भवति bhavati | is |
| प्रभो prabho | O Lord |
| किमाचारः kimācāraḥ | what is his conduct kim (what) + ācāraḥ (conduct) |
| कथम् katham | how |
| च ca | and |
| एतान् etān | these |
| त्रीन् trīn | three |
| गुणान् guṇān | guṇas |
| अतिवर्तते ativartate | goes beyond |
Word-wise Chanting
- kair–liṅ–gais–trīn–gu–ṇā–ne–tān– 8 syllables kair-lin-gais-treen-gu-naa-ne-taan-
- a–tī–to bha–va–ti pra–bho | 8 syllables a-tee-to bha-va-ti pra-bho
- ki–mā–cā–raḥ ka–thaṃ cai–tāṃs– 8 syllables ki-maa-chaa-rah ka-tham chai-taams-
- trīn–gu–ṇā–na–ti–var–ta–te || 14-21 8 syllables treen-gu-naa-na-ti-var-ta-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 21
Context
Arjuna asks about the one who transcends the gunas (14.21).
Meaning
Arjuna asks three practical questions, as he did about the steady-minded sage in 2.54: what are the liṅgas, signs, of one beyond the guṇas; what is their ācāra, conduct; and how do they go beyond?
Arjuna wants to know how to recognise and become such a person. Ideals become useful when they are described concretely.
In Practice
Ask yourself: how would I behave if I were not ruled by my moods?
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.