Shloka 10

Devanagari script

उत्क्रामन्तं स्थितं वापि भुज्जानं वा गुणान्वितम्‌ । विमूढा नानुपश्यन्ति पश्यन्ति ज्ञानचक्षुष:,शरीरको छोड़कर जाते हुएको अथवा शरीरमें स्थित हुएको अथवा विषयोंको भोगते हुएको--इस प्रकार तीनों गुणोंसे युक्त हुएको भी अज्ञानीजन नहीं जानते, केवल ज्ञानरूप नेत्रोंवाले ज्ञानीजन ही तत्त्वसे जानते हैं:

Transliteration

utkrāmantaṁ sthitaṁ vāpi bhuñjānaṁ vā guṇānvitam | vimūḍhā nānupaśyanti paśyanti jñānacakṣuṣaḥ ||

Translation

உடலை விட்டு நீங்கும் போதும், உடலில் தங்கும் போதும், அல்லது விஷயங்களை அனுபவிக்கும் போதும்—மூன்று குணங்களுடன் இணைந்த இந்த ஆத்மாவை மயக்கமுற்றோர் காணார்; ஞானக் கண் உடையோர் மட்டுமே உண்மையாய் காண்கிறார்.

Word by Word

उत्क्रामन्तम्departing (from the body)

स्थितम्standing; remaining (in the body)

वाor

अपिalso; even

भुञ्जानम्enjoying; experiencing (objects)

वाor

गुणान्वितम्endowed with the (three) guṇas

विमूढाःthe deluded (people)

नnot

अनुपश्यन्तिdo not perceive; do not discern

पश्यन्तिsee; perceive

ज्ञानचक्षुषःthose whose eyes are knowledge; the wise

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

guṇas (sattva, rajas, tamas)

jñānacakṣuṣ (eye of knowledge)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The self’s movement—departing at death, abiding in the body, and experiencing through the guṇas—is not grasped by the deluded, but is discerned by the wise through knowledge. The verse urges cultivation of insight that distinguishes the enduring self from the changing body-mind.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna is articulating a philosophical distinction central to the teaching: ordinary people fail to recognize the self’s presence and transition, while the spiritually discerning perceive it. This supports the broader counsel to act with clarity rather than be overwhelmed by grief and confusion.