Bhagavad Gita BG 13.32
Chapter 13, Verse 32 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
अनादित्वान्निर्गुणत्वात् परमात्मायमव्ययः । शरीरस्थोऽपि कौन्तेय न करोति न लिप्यते ॥
anaditvat nirgunatvat paramatmayam avyayah sharira-stho 'pi kaunteya na karoti na lipyate
Meaning
Because this supreme Atman is beginningless and without qualities — O Kaunteya — it does not act and is not tainted, even though it dwells in the body.
Understanding
The reason the Atman is free: anaditvat (because it is beginningless — it was never born into the body). Nirgunatvat (because it is without qualities/gunas — it has no sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic coloring). Avyayah (inexhaustible, unchanging). Because of these two qualities: sharira-stho 'pi (even while dwelling in the body) na karoti (it does not act) na lipyate (it is not tainted/colored). The Atman does not act because action belongs to Prakriti-gunas. The Atman does not accumulate karma. The Atman is not stained by any experience — evil or good — because it is nirgunam (without qualities to be colored).
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अनादित्वात् | anaditvat | because of being beginningless (ablative: 'from the fact of having no beginning') |
| निर्गुणत्वात् | nirgunatvat | because of being without gunas (qualities) |
| अव्ययः | avyayah | inexhaustible, unchanging, imperishable |
| शरीरस्थः | sharira-sthah | dwelling in the body, present in the physical form |
| न लिप्यते | na lipyate | is not tainted, not colored, not stained |
| अनादित्वात् | anāditvāt | because of being beginningless |
| निर्गुणत्वात् | nirguṇatvāt | because of being without qualities |
| परमात्मा | paramātmā ayam | this Supreme Self |
| अव्ययः | avyayaḥ | imperishable |
| शरीर-स्थः | śarīra-sthaḥ api | even though situated in the body |
| कौन्तेय | kaunteya | O son of Kunti |
| न | na karoti | does not act |
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