Word meanings
- tattva-vit
- the knower of the Truth
- tu
- but
- mahā-bāho
- mighty-armed one
- guṇa-karma
- from guṇas and karma
- vibhāgayoḥ
- distinguish
- guṇāḥ
- modes of material nature in the shape of the senses, mind, etc
- guṇeṣu
- modes of material nature in the shape of objects of perception
- vartante
- are engaged
- iti
- thus
- matvā
- knowing
- na
- never
- sajjate
- becomes attached
Translations
But he who knows the Truth, O mighty-armed Arjuna, about the divisions of the qualities and their functions, knowing that the Gunas, as senses, move amidst the Gunas, as the sense-objects, is not attached.
But he, O Mighty One, who correctly understands the relationship between the Qualities and action, is not attached to the act, for he perceives that it is merely the action and reaction of the Qualities among themselves.
But, O mighty-armed one, the one who is a knower of the facts about the varieties of the gunas and actions does not become attached, thinking thus: 'The organs act on the objects of the organs.'
हे महाबाहो! गुण-विभाग और कर्म-विभागको तत्त्वसे जाननेवाला महापुरुष 'सम्पूर्ण गुण ही गुणोंमें बरत रहे हैं' -- ऐसा मानकर उनमें आसक्त नहीं होता।Commentary
He who knows the truth that the Self is entirely distinct from the three Gunas and actions does not become attached to the actions. He who knows the truth about the classification of the Gunas and their respective functions understands that the alities as senseorgans move amidst the alities as senseobjects. Therefore he is not attached to the actions. He knows? I am Akarta -- I am not the doer. (Cf.XIV.23).