In Bhagavad Gita 14.22, Krishna says that such a person does not hate illumination, activity or delusion when they arise, nor long for them when they cease.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
प्रकाशं च प्रवृत्तिं च
मोहमेव च पाण्डव
न द्वेष्टि सम्प्रवृत्तानि
न निवृत्तानि काङ्क्षति ॥ १४-२२ ॥
prakāśaṃ ca pravṛttiṃ ca
mohameva ca pāṇḍava
na dveṣṭi sampravṛttāni
na nivṛttāni kāṅkṣati
English transliteration prakaasham cha pravrittim cha
mohameva cha paandava
na dveshti sampravrittaani
na nivrittaani kaankshati ॥ 14.22 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The Blessed Lord said: He does not hate illumination, activity or delusion when they are present, O son of Pandu, nor does he long for them when they are absent.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| प्रकाशम् prakāśam | illumination |
| च ca | and |
| प्रवृत्तिम् pravṛttim | activity |
| च ca | and |
| मोहम् moham | delusion |
| एव eva | also |
| च ca | and |
| पाण्डव pāṇḍava | O son of Pāṇḍu |
| न na | not |
| द्वेष्टि dveṣṭi | hates |
| सम्प्रवृत्तानि sampravṛttāni | when present |
| न na | not |
| निवृत्तानि nivṛttāni | when absent |
| काङ्क्षति kāṅkṣati | longs for |
Word-wise Chanting
- pra–kā–śaṃ ca pra–vṛt–tiṃ ca 8 syllables pra-kaa-sham cha pra-vrit-tim cha
- mo–ha–me–va ca pāṇ–ḍa–va | 8 syllables mo-ha-me-va cha paan-da-va
- na dveṣ–ṭi sam–pra–vṛt–tā–ni 8 syllables na dvesh-ti sam-pra-vrit-taa-ni
- na ni–vṛt–tā–ni kāṅ–kṣa–ti || 14-22 8 syllables na ni-vrit-taa-ni kaan-ksha-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 22
Context
Krishna describes one who transcends the gunas (14.22–14.25).
Meaning
The effects of the three guṇas are prakāśa (sattva), pravṛtti (rajas) and moha (tamas). The one beyond the guṇas neither resists them when they appear nor misses them when they leave. They are allowed to come and go.
This is the attitude of the witness toward the weather of the mind. Clarity, activity and dullness pass through, but we neither cling nor fight.
In Practice
Let your moods come and go today without resisting or clinging. Simply notice them.
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.