Bhagavad Gita BG 14.22
Chapter 14, Verse 22 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
प्रकाशं च प्रवृत्तिं च मोहमेव च पाण्डव । न द्वेष्टि संप्रवृत्तानि न निवृत्तानि काङ्क्षति ॥
prakasham ca pravrtim ca moham eva ca pandava na dveshti sampravrttani na nivrttani kankshati
Meaning
Neither hating illumination (sattva), nor activity (rajas), nor delusion (tamas) when they arise — nor longing for them when they cease —
Understanding
The primary sign of the gunatita (one beyond the gunas): prakasham ca (illumination/sattva), pravrttim ca (activity/rajas), moham ca (delusion/tamas) — na dveshti sampravrttani (does not hate them when they arise) — na nivrttani kankshati (does not long for them when they cease). The gunatita is not someone who has eliminated the gunas (they still operate in the body) but someone who does not REACT to them — neither hating what is unpleasant (tamas/rajas) when it arises nor craving what is pleasant (sattva) when it passes. Equanimity toward the gunas themselves.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| प्रकाशम् | prakasham | illumination (sattva's expression) |
| प्रवृत्तिम् | pravrttim | activity (rajas's expression) |
| मोहम् | moham | delusion/confusion (tamas's expression) |
| सम्प्रवृत्तानि | sampravrttani | when arising, when occurring |
| निवृत्तानि | nivrttani | when ceasing, when passing |
| प्रकाशम् | prakāśam ca | and illumination |
| प्रवृत्तिम् | pravṛttim ca | and activity |
| मोहम् | moham eva ca | and delusion also |
| पाण्डव | pāṇḍava | O Arjuna (son of Pandu) |
| न | na dveṣṭi | does not hate |
| सम्प्रवृत्तानि | sampravṛttāni | when present |
| न | na | nor |
| निवृत्तानि | nivṛttāni | when absent |
| काङ्क्षति | kāṅkṣati | yearns for, desires |