In Bhagavad Gita 2.45, Krishna tells Arjuna that the Vedas deal with the three gunas, and asks him to rise above them, free from dualities, established in purity and self-possessed.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
त्रैगुण्यविषया वेदा
निस्त्रैगुण्यो भवार्जुन
निर्द्वन्द्वो नित्यसत्त्वस्थो
निर्योगक्षेम आत्मवान् ॥ २-४५ ॥
traiguṇyaviṣayā vedā
nistraiguṇyo bhavārjuna
nirdvandvo nityasattvastho
niryogakṣema ātmavān
English transliteration traigunyavishayaa vedaa
nistraigunyo bhavaarjuna
nirdvandvo nityasattvastho
niryogakshema aatmavaan ॥ 2.45 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The Vedas deal with the realm of the three gunas. Be free from the three gunas, O Arjuna: free from the pairs of opposites, ever established in pure being, free from concern for acquiring and keeping, and established in the Self.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| त्रैगुण्यविषयाः traiguṇyaviṣayāḥ | dealing with the three guṇas traiguṇya (the three guṇas) + viṣayāḥ (subject matter) |
| वेदाः vedāḥ | the Vedas |
| निस्त्रैगुण्यः nistraiguṇyaḥ | free from the three guṇas |
| भव bhava | be |
| अर्जुन arjuna | O Arjuna |
| निर्द्वन्द्वः nirdvandvaḥ | free from the pairs of opposites |
| नित्यसत्त्वस्थः nityasattvasthaḥ | ever established in pure being nitya (ever) + sattva (purity, being) + sthaḥ (established) |
| निर्योगक्षेमः niryogakṣemaḥ | free from concern for acquiring and keeping yoga (acquiring) + kṣemaḥ (preserving) |
| आत्मवान् ātmavān | established in the Self |
Word-wise Chanting
- trai–guṇ–ya–vi–ṣa–yā ve–dā 8 syllables trai-gun-ya-vi-sha-yaa ve-daa
- nis–trai–guṇ–yo bha–vār–ju–na | 8 syllables nis-trai-gun-yo bha-vaar-ju-na
- nir–dvan–dvo nit–ya–sat–tvas–tho 8 syllables nir-dvan-dvo nit-ya-sat-tvas-tho
- nir–yo–ga–kṣe–ma āt–ma–vān || 2-45 8 syllables nir-yo-ga-kshe-ma aat-ma-vaan
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 2 Verse 45
Context
After criticising desire-driven ritualism (2.42–2.44), Krishna gives the positive alternative.
Meaning
The ritual portions of the Vedas operate within the three guṇas, the qualities of nature, sattva, rajas and tamas, that make up all experience. Krishna asks Arjuna to go beyond them. The verse gives a ladder of freedom: beyond the guṇas, beyond opposites, rooted in pure being, free from worry about getting and keeping, and finally ātmavān, established in the Self.
The phrase niryoga-kṣema is especially practical. Much of life is spent acquiring what we lack and protecting what we have. The Gita invites a different centre: the Self, which needs nothing and loses nothing. Later Krishna promises that he himself carries the yoga-kṣema of those devoted to him (9.22).
In Practice
Notice how much of your thinking today is about getting or keeping. For a few minutes, rest in the part of you that needs nothing.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge). 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.