Bhagavad Gita BG 14.25
Chapter 14, Verse 25 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
मानापमानयोस्तुल्यः तुल्यो मित्रारिपक्षयोः । सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी गुणातीतः स उच्यते ॥
manapamanayos tulyah tulyo mitrari-pakshayoh sarvarambha-parityagi gunatitah sa ucyate
Meaning
Equal in honor and dishonor; equal toward the party of friends and enemies; abandoning all undertakings (sarvarambha-parityagi) — such a one is said to have transcended the three gunas.
Understanding
The closing signs of the gunatita: manapamanayos tulyah (equal in honor and dishonor — not needing recognition, not fleeing from loss of recognition). Tulyo mitrari-pakshayoh (equal toward friend-party and enemy-party — the social division of 'mine' and 'theirs' is dissolved). Sarvarambha-parityagi (abandoning all undertakings/initiatives — parityaga of arambha = the rajasic compulsion to initiate, start, undertake is released). Gunatitah sa ucyate (that one is said to be gunatita). 'Sarvarambha-parityagi' does not mean total inaction but the release of the COMPULSION to initiate — actions arise when needed, but not from rajasic driven-ness. The gunatita is responsive, not compelled.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| मानापमानयोः | manapamanayoh | in honor and dishonor (dual genitive — of both) |
| मित्रारिपक्षयोः | mitrari-pakshayoh | toward the party of friends and enemies |
| सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी | sarvarambha-parityagi | one who abandons all undertakings/initiatives (the rajasic drive to initiate) |
| गुणातीतः | gunatitah | one who has transcended the three gunas |
| मान-अपमानयोः | māna-apamānayoḥ | in honor and dishonor |
| तुल्यः | tulyaḥ | equal |
| तुल्यः | tulyo | equal |
| मित्र-अरि-पक्षयोः | mitrāri-pakṣayoḥ | in friend and foe |
| सर्वारम्भ-परित्यागी | sarvārambha-parityāgī | who renounces all undertakings |
| गुणातीतः | guṇātītaḥ | transcended the modes of nature |
| सः | sa | he |
| उच्यते | ucyate | is said to be |
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