Chapter 14 Verse 22-23
Guṇa Traya Vibhāg Yog
श्री भगवानुवाचप्रकाशं च प्रवृत्तिं च मोहमेव च पाण्डव।न द्वेष्टि सम्प्रवृत्तानि न निवृत्तानि काङ्क्षति।।14.22।। उदासीनवदासीनो गुणैर्यो न विचाल्यते।गुणा वर्तन्त इत्येव योऽवतिष्ठति नेङ्गते।।14.23।।
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha prakāśhaṁ cha pravṛittiṁ cha moham eva cha pāṇḍava na dveṣhṭi sampravṛittāni na nivṛittāni kāṅkṣhati udāsīna-vad āsīno guṇair yo na vichālyate guṇā vartanta ity evaṁ yo ’vatiṣhṭhati neṅgate
Word Meanings
| śhrī-bhagavān uvācha | the Supreme Divine Personality said |
| prakāśham | illumination |
| cha | and |
| pravṛittim | activity |
| cha | and |
| moham | delusion |
| eva | even |
| cha | and |
| pāṇḍava | Arjun, the son of Pandu |
| na dveṣhṭi | do not hate |
| sampravṛittāni | when present |
| na | nor |
| nivṛittāni | when absent |
| kāṅkṣhati | longs |
| 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 |
Translation
The Blessed Lord said, "When light, activity, and delusion are present, he does not hate them, nor does he long for them when they are absent. 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.
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
The verse teaches that clarity (light), activity, and delusion are natural modes of the mind and world. A wise person neither hates them when they appear nor longs for them when they disappear.
By staying neutral—like someone calmly seated apart—one is not tossed by the ups and downs. Recognizing that these qualities act on their own helps you stop identifying with every mood or impulse.
Rooted in the true self (the inner witness), you remain steady and free from being carried away by pleasure, pain, action, or ignorance.
Life Application
- Notice emotions and impulses as passing states instead of rushing to act on them.
- When praise, success, failure, or confusion come, pause and choose a calm, steady response rather than a reactive one.
- Practice a short daily quiet time to remind yourself you are the watcher, not every changing feeling.
Reflection Question
When a strong feeling arises, can I simply observe it without immediately reacting?