Verse-45
Chapter 2 — Sānkhya Yog
Verse 45
🕉 Original Sanskrit Shloka
traiguṇyaviṣayā vedā nistraiguṇyo bhavārjuna
nirdvandvo nityasattvastho niryogakṣema ātmavān
🕉 English Translation
📜 Translation
English
O Arjun! The Vedas expound in the foregoing manner the actions of the three attributes (gunas), their results to be enjoyed and means to perform the same. That is why you should remain indifferent to those enjoyments and their means, free from the dualities of happiness and sorrow, ever based in the ever present Lord, freed from all thoughts of acquisition, preservation and self-collected.
Three attributes (Gunas) are working in creation. These attributes exist in everyone in more or less degree–tamoguna, rajoguna and satoguna (tamoguna-inactivity, rajoguna–activity, satoguna–stainless purity in activities). In the fourteenth chapter of the Gita there is a clear description of these three attributes. Here, the Blessed Lord is only giving an indication–in the Vedas the three attributes, their actions and their means are expounded. But Parth! you should remain indifferent towards them and while remaining in them transcend them. The right channelisation of these attributes is neceessary but getting entangled and being limited to them is not right. Attachment binds, undermines the possibilities of progress and sometimes even ends them.
Every word of this important verse requires special attention and is also capable to bring one to life's highest state. 'nirdwandah'–become free from dualities. The world is full of dualities. Summer–winter, happiness–sorrow, joy–grief, honour-dishonor, gain-loss, victory–defeat–all of them are dualities. Invariably the human being by being involved in all of these beocomes confined to them only. Life is full of entanglements. Elated in the favourability of the dualities and dejected in the unfavourable situation. How to transcend them? The answer is contained in the inspiration given in the following word–'nitya stavathah' become established in the ever present Lord. The body should be engaged in worldly actions and the mind should be abiding in God. It is possible to protect oneself easily from the effect of dualities.