अनादित्वान्निर्गुणत्वात्परमात्मायमव्ययः ।
शरीरस्थोऽपि कौन्तेय न करोति न लिप्यते ॥
शरीरस्थोऽपि कौन्तेय न करोति न लिप्यते ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे कुन्तीनन्दन यह पुरुष स्वयं अनादि और गुणोंसे रहित होनेसे अविनाशी परमात्मस्वरूप ही है । यह शरीरमें रहता हुआ भी न करता है और न लिप्त होता है ॥
English
O son of Kunti, this supreme self is beginningless, beyond the gunas, and imperishable. Though abiding in the body, it does not act and is not stained.
What this verse means
The true self has no beginning, is beyond the three qualities of nature, and cannot be destroyed. Even while living in a body, it neither performs actions nor gets tainted by them.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna is frozen before battle. Krishna now explains the inner reality behind action: the true self is beginningless, beyond the changing qualities of nature, and remains untouched even while embodied. This prepares Arjuna to act without confusion.
Why this verse still matters
You said something sharp in anger, then spent the whole night replaying it. The mind wants to fuse you with the mistake; this verse separates the actor from the deeper witness.
The takeaway
You can be fully present in life without being trapped by everything that happens through you.
Word-by-word translation
अनादित्वात् (because of beginninglessness) / निर्गुणत्वात् (because of being beyond the gunas) / परमात्मा (supreme self) / अयम् (this) / अव्ययः (imperishable) । / शरीरस्थः (abiding in the body) / अपि (even though) / कौन्तेय (O son of Kunti) / न (not) / करोति (acts) / न (not) / लिप्यते (is stained)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13: Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga — Field and Knower of the Field, which contains 35 verses.
Explore related themes: kshetrajna (20 verses)