Bhagavad Gītā › Chapter 2 › Verse 45
Bhagavad Gītā 2.45: Rise above the three qualities
त्रैगुण्यविषया वेदा निस्त्रैगुण्यो भवार्जुन ।
निर्द्वन्द्वो नित्यसत्त्वस्थो निर्योगक्षेम आत्मवान् ॥
traiguṇyaviṣayā vedā nistraiguṇyo bhavārjuna
nirdvandvo nityasattvastho niryogakṣema ātmavān
Recitation: NehalDaveND (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 4.0, adapted, original recording
Meaning
The Vedas deal with the three guṇas; be free of the three guṇas, Arjuna: free from the pairs of opposites, ever established in sattva, free from concern for acquisition and preservation, possessed of the self. Commentators explain that the ritual portion of the Vedas addresses worldly aims shaped by the guṇas, and Kṛṣṇa points beyond them to the self.
For children
Krishna says: “Don’t let your mood be pushed around by everything that happens. Stay calm and good inside, Arjuna.”
After describing minds caught by desire (2.42–2.44), Kṛṣṇa tells Arjuna how to be free of that pull.
Word by word
त्रैगुण्यविषया वेदा — The Vedas speak of the three qualities of nature
- traiguṇya: the three qualities (guṇas) of nature
- viṣaya: subject matter
- veda: the Vedas
निस्त्रैगुण्यो भवार्जुन — rise above them, Arjuna
- nistraiguṇya: beyond the three qualities
- bhava: be, become
निर्द्वन्द्वो नित्यसत्त्वस्थो — free from opposites, always steady in goodness
- nirdvandva: free from pairs of opposites
- nityasattvastha: always established in goodness
निर्योगक्षेम आत्मवान् — not worried about getting and keeping, centred in the self
- yogakṣema: getting and keeping possessions
- ātmavat: self-possessed, centred in the self
Kṛṣṇa speaks this verse. The Sanskrit is checked against four editions; meanings and word notes are simple learning aids written for MahaPrabha Gurukul, awaiting review by a Sanskrit teacher.