Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 45

Chapter 2 – Sankhya Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

त्रैगुण्यविषया वेदा निस्त्रैगुण्यो भवार्जुन ।
निर्द्वन्द्वो नित्यसत्त्वस्थो निर्योगक्षेम आत्मवान् ॥

Transliteration

traiguṇyaviṣayā vedā nistraiguṇyo bhavārjuna .
nirdvandvo nityasattvastho niryogakṣema ātmavān ॥

Meaning

The Vedas deal with the realm of the three gunas. Rise above the three gunas, O Arjuna: be free from the pairs of opposites, ever established in pure sattva, free from anxiety about acquiring and preserving, and established in the Self.

Word meanings

त्रैगुण्यविषयाः – dealing with the three gunas
वेदाः – the Vedas (ritual portion)
निस्त्रैगुण्यः – beyond the three gunas
भव – be
अर्जुन – O Arjuna
निर्द्वन्द्वः – free from the pairs of opposites
नित्यसत्त्वस्थः – ever established in sattva
निर्योगक्षेमः – free from concern for acquisition and preservation
आत्मवान् – self-possessed, established in the Self

Anvaya (word order)

अर्जुन, वेदाः त्रैगुण्यविषयाः (सन्ति); (त्वं) निस्त्रैगुण्यः निर्द्वन्द्वः नित्यसत्त्वस्थः निर्योगक्षेमः आत्मवान् भव ।

Explanation

Having described the pleasure-seeking outlook, Krishna now shows Arjuna a higher path. The ritual portion of the Vedas, He says, is ‘traigunya-vishaya’ — it concerns the world made of the three gunas, sattva, rajas and tamas, and its rewards. Rise above it — ‘nistraigunyo bhava’.

He then gives four marks of this transcendence. ‘Nirdvandva’ — unaffected by the pairs of opposites such as pleasure and pain, heat and cold, honour and dishonour. ‘Nitya-sattvastha’ — ever established in pure sattva, keeping the mind clear, calm and luminous. ‘Niryoga-kshema’ — ‘yoga’ means acquiring what one lacks and ‘kshema’ means protecting what one has; be free from anxiety about both. And ‘atmavan’ — established in the Self, ever alert and self-controlled.

A question arises: if one is to rise above all three gunas, why be ‘established in sattva’? Shankara explains that ‘nitya-sattvastha’ refers to the stage of practice in which sattva predominates, for pure sattva is the doorway to the state beyond the gunas. As one thorn is used to remove another and then both are thrown away, so sattva is used to remove rajas and tamas, and finally one goes beyond sattva too.

The teaching of ‘niryoga-kshema’ is profound. Most of our mental stress comes from just this: ‘What will I get?’ and ‘What if I lose what I have?’ Later (9.22) Krishna promises that for devotees who think of Him with undivided devotion, He Himself carries the burden of their yoga and kshema.

In life this verse teaches us to step off the swing of pleasure and pain, let go of the anxiety of getting and keeping, and rest in the calm centre within. That is true freedom.

Context

Verses 2.42–2.44 described ritual-centred seekers of pleasure. Here Krishna tells Arjuna to rise above the three gunas and the pairs of opposites. In the next verse (2.46) He explains how much use the Vedas have for one who knows Brahman.

Life lesson

Constant worry about getting and losing is the cause of most stress. Rise above the swings of pleasure and pain, keep the mind pure and calm, and remain steady in the centre within.

Key terms

Traigunya: the realm of the three gunas — sattva, rajas and tamas
Nirdvandva: free from the pairs of opposites
Yoga-kshema: acquiring what one lacks and preserving what one has
Atmavan: self-possessed, established in the Self