Bhagavad Gita BG 14.19
Chapter 14, Verse 19 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
नान्यं गुणेभ्यः कर्तारं यदा द्रष्टानुपश्यति । गुणेभ्यश्च परं वेत्ति मद्भावं सोऽधिगच्छति ॥
nanyam gunebhyah kartaram yada drashtanupashyati gunebhyash ca param vetti mad-bhavam so 'dhigacchati
Meaning
When the seer perceives no agent other than the gunas, and knows what is higher than the gunas — that one attains My state (mad-bhava).
Understanding
The liberation-formula: nanyam gunebhyah kartaram yada drashtanupashyati (when the seer — draShTa = witness — perceives no agent/doer other than the gunas — all doing is Prakriti's gunas, not the Atman). Gunebhyash ca param vetti (and knows what is BEYOND the gunas — Purusha/Atman, untouched by all guna-activity). Mad-bhavam so 'dhigacchati (that one attains My state). Two recognitions together: 1) All doing = gunas (not Atman); 2) There IS something beyond the gunas (the pure Witness). These two simultaneously = the recognition of one's own Atman-nature = mad-bhava (attaining the Divine nature).
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| द्रष्टा | draShTa | the seer, the witness — the one who perceives |
| अनुपश्यति | anupashyati | perceives, sees closely and clearly |
| परम् | param | what is beyond, the transcendent |
| मद्भावम् | mad-bhavam | My state/nature — the Divine being |
| अधिगच्छति | adhigacchati | attains, reaches, goes to |
| न | na anyam | no other |
| गुणेभ्यः | guṇebhyaḥ | than the modes |
| कर्तारम् | kartāram | the doer, the agent |
| यदा | yadā | when |
| द्रष्टा | draṣṭā | the seer, the witness |
| अनुपश्यति | anupaśyati | perceives, sees |
| गुणेभ्यः | guṇebhyaś ca | and beyond the modes |
| वेत्ति | vetti | knows |
| मद्-भावम् | mad-bhāvam | My nature |
| सः | so | he |
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