Bhagavad Gita — Sankhya Yoga, Shloka 45
Sankhya Yoga
त्रैगुण्यविषया वेदा निस्त्रैगुण्यो भवार्जुन । निर्द्वन्द्वो नित्यसत्त्वस्थो निर्योगक्षेम आत्मवान् ॥
traiguṇya-viṣayā vedā nistraiguṇyo bhavārjuna | nirdvandvo nitya-sattva-stho niryoga-kṣema ātmavān ||
The Vedas move within the domain of the three guṇas; O Arjuna, become free from the three guṇas—free from the pairs of opposites, ever established in sattva (purity), unconcerned with acquisition and preservation, and self-possessed.
The Vedas deal with the three guṇas; O Arjuna, be free from the three guṇas, free from the pairs of opposites, established in purity, unconcerned with acquisition and preservation, and self-possessed.
The Vedas operate within the domain of the three guṇas; become beyond the three guṇas, O Arjuna—free from dualities, ever established in sattva (clarity), without concern for gain and security, and possessing self-mastery.
Most traditional renderings read this as a pedagogical hierarchy: ritual and merit-oriented Vedic injunctions function within guṇa-conditioned life, while the instruction here points toward a contemplative/ethical stance (equanimity, self-governance). Some commentators stress that this is not a rejection of the Vedas but a move from instrumentality (results) to inner steadiness.
FAQs
The verse recommends reducing reactivity to opposing experiences (success/failure, pleasure/pain) and cultivating stable clarity (sattva), which can be read as training attention and affect regulation rather than chasing reassurance through outcomes.
“Beyond the guṇas” gestures toward a standpoint not defined by prakṛti’s modalities; later chapters elaborate this as a liberated orientation where the self is not identified with changing qualities.
Krishna is shifting Arjuna from a results-driven, rule-centered outlook to a disciplined inner posture suitable for yoga and ethical action without fixation on reward.
Emphasize process over constant optimization: act responsibly while loosening anxiety about accumulation, status, and security, and practice steadiness when circumstances fluctuate.