Bhagavad Gita BG 14.23
Chapter 14, Verse 23 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
उदासीनवदासीनो गुणैर्यो न विचाल्यते । गुणा वर्तन्त इत्येवं योऽवतिष्ठति नेङ्गते ॥
udasinavad asinam gunair yo na vicalyate guna vartanta ity evam yo 'vatishthati nengate
Meaning
One who is seated like a witness (udasina), not disturbed by the gunas, standing firm in the recognition 'the gunas are acting' — one who is not agitated —
Understanding
The portrait of the gunatita continues (from v22's 'not hating or longing for gunas'): udasinavad asinam (seated as if indifferent/like a witness — udasina literally means 'one who sits separately, apart,' the non-partisan observer). Gunair yo na vicalyate (not disturbed/moved by the gunas). Guna vartanta ity evam (with the understanding 'the gunas are acting' — this is the precise cognitive recognition that defines gunatita). Yo 'vatishthati nengate (one who stands firm, who is not shaken). The key phrase: 'guna vartanta ity evam' — the gunatita does not say 'I am tired' (tamas) or 'I am angry' (rajas) or 'I am happy' (sattva). Instead: 'the gunas are acting — tamas is active now, rajas is active now.' Witness-consciousness replaces identification.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| उदासीनवत् | udasinavat | like a neutral witness, like one sitting apart (not indifferent but non-reactive) |
| आसीनः | asinah | seated, sitting — the posture of the witness |
| विचाल्यते | vicalyate | is disturbed, is moved, is agitated |
| गुणा वर्तन्ते | guna vartante | the gunas are acting, the gunas are moving |
| नेङ्गते | nengate | is not agitated, does not waver |
| उदासीनवत् | udāsīnavat | like an indifferent person |
| आसीनः | āsīnaḥ | sitting, remaining |
| गुणैः | guṇaiḥ | by the modes |
| यः | yaḥ | who |
| न | na | not |
| विचाल्यते | vicālyate | is disturbed |
| गुण | guṇā | the modes |
| वर्तन्ते | vartanta iti evam | are acting thus |
| यः | yaḥ | who |
| अवतिष्ठति | avatiṣṭhati | remains steady |
| न | neṅgate | does not waver |
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