Word meanings
- arjunaḥ uvāca
- Arjun inquired
- kaiḥ
- by what
- liṅgaiḥ
- symptoms
- trīn
- three
- guṇān
- modes of material nature
- etān
- these
- atītaḥ
- having transcended
- bhavati
- is
- prabho
- Lord
- kim
- what
- ācāraḥ
- conduct
- katham
- how
- ca
- and
- etān
- these
- trīn
- three
- guṇān
- modes of material nature
- ativartate
- transcend
Translations
Arjuna said, "What are the marks of one who has transcended the three qualities, O Lord? What is their conduct, and how do they go beyond these three qualities?"
Arjuna asked, "My Lord, how can one recognize someone who has transcended the qualities? How do they act and live beyond them?"
Arjuna said, "O Lord, by what signs is one known who has gone beyond these three qualities? What is their behavior, and how do they transcend these three qualities?"
अर्जुन बोले -- हे प्रभो ! इन तीनों गुणोंसे अतीत हुआ मनुष्य किन लक्षणोंसे युक्त होता है? उसके आचरण कैसे होते हैं? और इन तीनों गुणोंका अतिक्रमण कैसे किया जा सकता है?Commentary
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)