Chapter 14, Verse 23
Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga — Sanskrit shloka, transliteration, word meanings, English translation, and commentary.
Original Sanskrit verse
Transliteration
Word meanings
udāsīna-vat—neutral; āsīnaḥ—situated; guṇaiḥ—to the modes of material nature; yaḥ—who; na—not; vichālyate—are disturbed; guṇāḥ—modes of material nature; vartante—act; iti-evam—knowing it in this way; yaḥ—who; avatiṣhṭhati—established in the self; na—not; iṅgate—wavering
English translation
He who, seated like one unconcerned, is not moved by the dualities, and who, knowing that the dualities are active, is self-centered and does not move.
— Swami Sivananda
Listen to Shloka 14.23
Commentary
He is seated as a neutral (one who inclines to neither party). He is free from likes and dislikes. He is entirely unconcerned whether the qualities with their effects and the body come or go. He is like the spectator at a football or a cricket match or a drama. Just as the sky remains unconcerned when the wind blows; so also he remains quite unconcerned when the qualities operate. He does not swerve from the path of Selfrealisation. He treads the path firmly. He thinks and feels The qualities are modified into the body; senses and senseobjects. They act and react upon one another; remains unshaken by them. He abides in his own Self and stands firm like the mountain Meru. (Cf. III.28V.8to11)
Commentary by Swami Sivananda
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