Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14, Verse 23

Chapter 14 – Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

उदासीनवदासीनो गुणैर्यो न विचाल्यते ।
गुणा वर्तन्त इत्येवं योऽवतिष्ठति नेङ्गते ॥

Transliteration

udāsīnavadāsīno guṇairyo na vicālyate .
guṇā vartanta ityevaṃ yo.avatiṣṭhati neṅgate ॥

Meaning

He who sits like one unconcerned, undisturbed by the gunas, who stays firm knowing that it is only the gunas that act, and does not waver.

Word meanings

उदासीनवत् – like one unconcerned, like a neutral witness
आसीनः – seated, abiding
गुणैः – by the gunas
यः – who
न विचाल्यते – is not disturbed
गुणाः – the gunas
वर्तन्ते – are acting, are operating
इति एवम् – thus (knowing)
यः – who
अवतिष्ठति – remains firm
न इङ्गते – does not waver

Anvaya (word order)

यः उदासीनवत् आसीनः गुणैः न विचाल्यते, गुणाः वर्तन्ते इति एव (मत्वा) यः अवतिष्ठति, न इङ्गते ।

Explanation

The previous verse gave the inner mark of the one beyond the gunas; this verse begins to describe his conduct, Arjuna's second question. His state is described as udasinavad asinah, 'seated like one unconcerned'.

Udasina here does not mean sad or indifferent. Literally it means 'seated above' (ut + asina), like a neutral party in a dispute who takes no side and calmly observes both. The one beyond the gunas watches their play in the same way, from above, as a witness. The suffix vat, 'like', is also meaningful: outwardly he continues to act and deal with the world normally, but inwardly he is not entangled.

'He is not disturbed by the gunas.' Whether a wave of pleasure or pain arrives, whether a surge of activity or of inertia, he does not move from his centre. The secret lies in the next phrase: guna vartanta ity eva, 'it is only the gunas that are acting' (compare 3.28). The senses engage with objects, the mind with thoughts, the body with actions; all this is the work of nature, while the Self is the witness.

'He stays firm and does not waver.' Ingate means to tremble or shake. As a lamp flame in a windless place does not flicker (6.19), the mind of the one beyond the gunas rests unmoving in its true nature. This steadiness is not dullness but a deeply alert peace.

The verse contains a practical key. Whenever an emotion or situation begins to carry us away, we can pause for a moment and say, 'This is the play of the gunas.' That small understanding allows a wise response in place of a reaction.

Context

Verse 22 gave the inner mark of the one beyond the gunas; this verse describes his conduct and inner stance. The next two verses describe the various forms of his equanimity.

Life lesson

When an emotion or situation starts to sweep you away, pause and remember that it is the play of the gunas and that you are its witness. This simple insight turns reaction into wisdom.

Key terms

Udasina: One 'seated above', a neutral witness who takes no side
Guna vartante: The gunas alone are acting — the Self is not the doer
Na ingate: Does not waver, remains unmoved