अर्जुन उवाच | कैर्लिङ्गैस्त्रीन्गुणानेतानतीतो भवति प्रभो | किमाचारः कथं चैतांस्त्रीन्गुणानतिवर्तते ||१४-२१||
arjuna uvāca . kairliṅgaistrīnguṇānetānatīto bhavati prabho . kimācāraḥ kathaṃ caitāṃstrīnguṇānativartate ||14-21||
Chapter 14 · Verse 21
Guna Traya Vibhaga Yoga
गुणत्रयविभागयोग
In plain words
Arjuna said O Lord by what characteristics may a man be recognised as having gone beyond the three alities What is the behaviour of that Trigunatita sage (one who has gone beyond the three alities) and how does he go beyond the world and is above the Gunas Tell me that. These are the characteristics of the sage who has gone beyond the Gunas others should cultivate them. Just as a king is able to remove the grievances and sorrows of his servants so also the Lord is able to remove the sorrows of His devotees.
Translation
14.21 Arjuna said What are the marks of a man who has crossed beyond the three Gunas? What is his behaviour? And how does he cross beyond the three Gunas?
Meaning
Arjuna said O Lord by what characteristics may a man be recognised as having gone beyond the three alities What is the behaviour of that Trigunatita sage (one who has gone beyond the three alities) and how does he go beyond the world and is above the Gunas Tell me that. These are the characteristics of the sage who has gone beyond the Gunas others should cultivate them. Just as a king is able to remove the grievances and sorrows of his servants so also the Lord is able to remove the sorrows of His devotees. That is the reason why Arjuna addresses Sri Krishna as Lord and uses the term Prabhu. By using this word. Arjuna hinted to the Lord that He alone was capable of relieving his sorrows and pains. (Cf. II.54)
Word by word
कैः by what लिंगैः by marks त्रीन् three गुणान् Gunas एतान् these अतीतः crossed भवति becomes प्रभो O Lord किमाचारः what (is his) conduct कथम् how च and एतान् these त्रीन् three गुणान् Gunas अतिवर्तते goes beyond.