Bhagavad Gita BG 13.15
Chapter 13, Verse 15 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
सर्वेन्द्रियगुणाभासं सर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जितम् । असक्तं सर्वभृच्चैव निर्गुणं गुणभोक्तृ च ॥
sarvendriya-guna-bhasam sarvendriya-vivarjitam asaktam sarva-bhrt caiva nirgunam guna-bhoktrc ca
Meaning
Appearing to have the qualities of all senses, yet free from all senses; unattached, yet supporting all; free from the gunas, yet experiencing the gunas —
Understanding
A series of apparent paradoxes about Brahman: sarvendriya-guna-bhasam (shining with/appearing to have the qualities of all senses — it illumines all sense-experience) AND sarvendriya-vivarjitam (yet free from all senses — it has no senses of its own). Asaktam (unattached — not bound to anything) AND sarva-bhrt (yet supporting everything). Nirgunam (without qualities/gunas) AND guna-bhoktrc (yet the 'experiencer' of gunas — because all guna-experience happens in its light). These are not contradictions but descriptions of the Absolute that transcends all categories. Brahman is the Witness that seems to partake in experience without being affected by it.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| गुणाभासम् | guna-bhasam | appearing to have qualities, shining through the gunas |
| विवर्जितम् | vivarjitam | free from, devoid of |
| सर्वभृत् | sarva-bhrt | supporter of all, bearer of everything |
| निर्गुणम् | nirgunam | without qualities/gunas, beyond the three gunas |
| गुणभोक्तृ | guna-bhoktrc | experiencer of gunas, enjoyer of qualities |
| सर्वेन्द्रिय-गुण-आभासम् | sarvendriya-guṇa-ābhāsam | the illuminator of all sense qualities |
| सर्वेन्द्रिय-विवर्जितम् | sarvendriya-vivarjitam | devoid of all senses |
| असक्तम् | asaktam | unattached |
| सर्व-भृत् | sarva-bhṛt | sustaining all |
| च | caiva | and also |
| निर्गुणम् | nirguṇam | without material qualities |
| गुण-भोक्तृ | guṇa-bhoktṛ ca | and the enjoyer of the qualities |
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