Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga · Verse 22

Bhagavad Gita 14.22

Freedom begins when changing states stop controlling your response.

Wisdom translation, edited by Ankur Shukla. Commentary AI-drafted, human-reviewed. Reviewed June 2026. Methodology →

श्री भगवानुवाचप्रकाशं च प्रवृत्तिं च मोहमेव च पाण्डव ।
न द्वेष्टि सम्प्रवृत्तानि न निवृत्तानि काङ्क्षति ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
श्रीभगवान् बोले हे पाण्डव प्रकाश, प्रवृत्ति तथा मोह ये सभी अच्छी तरहसे प्रवृत्त हो जायँ तो भी गुणातीत मनुष्य इनसे द्वेष नहीं करता, और ये सभी निवृत्त हो जायँ तो इनकी इच्छा नहीं करता ॥
English
Krishna said: O Arjuna, the one who has gone beyond the three gunas does not hate light, activity, or confusion when they appear, and does not long for them when they disappear.

What this verse means

A person beyond the three gunas stays even-minded. When clarity, energy, or confusion appear, there is no hatred. When they fade, there is no craving.

Context & commentary

On the battlefield, Arjuna has asked how someone rises beyond the three gunas. Krishna answers with a test: the mature person does not react with aversion when clarity, drive, or confusion appear, and does not cling when they pass.

Why this verse still matters

You wake up clear one day, restless the next, numb after that. Instead of treating each state like a verdict on your life, you let it move through without panic or pursuit.

The takeaway

You stop fighting your changing states and stop chasing the next one.

Word-by-word translation

श्री भगवानुवाच (the Blessed One said) / प्रकाशं (light) / च (and) / प्रवृत्तिं (activity) / च (and) / मोहमेव (and delusion itself) / च (and) / पाण्डव (O Pandava) / न द्वेष्टि (does not hate) / सम्प्रवृत्तानि (when arisen) / न निवृत्तानि (when ceased) / काङ्क्षति (desire)

Explore related themes: vairagya (51 verses), gunas (47 verses), equanimity (23 verses)

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