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Bhagavad Gita · 13.32 · Yoga through Distinguishing the Field and the Knower of the Field·32 of 35

अनादित्वान्निर्गुणत्वात्परमात्मायमव्ययःशरीरस्थोऽपि कौन्तेय न करोति न लिप्यते

anāditvān nirguṇatvāt paramātmāyam avyayaḥ

śharīra-stho ’pi kaunteya na karoti na lipyate

Sanskrit recitation

Matter, spirit, and freedom · 13.19–13.35 · Teaching

Translation

Being without beginning, devoid of any qualities, the Supreme Self, imperishable, though dwelling in the body, O Arjuna, neither acts nor is tainted.

Meaning

The Supreme Self is beyond Nature. Therefore It is without alities. It is Nirguna. The activity in Nature is really due to its own alities which inhere in it. The Supreme Self existed before the body came into being and will continue to be after its dissolution. It is eternally the same and imperishable.Avyaya That which is free from the changes of birth and death or appearance and destruction. That which has a beginning has birth. After the object is born it is subject to the changes of being (growth, decay, etc.). As the Self is birthless, It is free from the changes of state (existence, birth, growth, change, decay and death). As the Self is free from all sorts of functions, It is Avyaya. Even if the reflection of the sun in the water moves, the sun does not move a bit. Even so the Supreme Self is not touched by the fruits of action as It is not the doer, as It is without the alities of Nature, or limbs, indivisible, devoid of parts, without action, beginningless and unattached and causeless.This Supreme Self is free from the three kinds of differences, viz., Sajatiyabheda, Vijatiyabheda and Svagatabheda. A mango tree is different from a fig tree. This is Sajatiyabheda. A mango tree is different from a stone. This is Vijatiyabheda. In the same mango tree there is difference between leaves, flowers and fruits. This is Svagatabheda

After Swami Sivananda

Matter, spirit, and freedom· 13.19–13.35

Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.

Word-by-word
na
nor
api
although
ayam
this
karoti
acts
parama
the Supreme
ātmā
soul
lipyate
is tainted
kaunteya
Arjun, the the son of Kunti
avyayaḥ
imperishable
anāditvāt
being without beginning
nirguṇatvāt
being devoid of any material qualities
śharīra-sthaḥ
dwelling in the body

Related verses

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