Commentary

Commentary

Krishna begins answering Arjuna’s three questions, starting with the symptoms of one who has transcended the three modes. This verse and the next few form one of the most practical descriptions of a liberated soul in the entire Gita.

The three effects mentioned correspond to the three modes: prakaasham (illumination) is the effect of sattva, pravrittim (activity/attachment) is the effect of rajas, and moham (delusion) is the effect of tamas. A person who has transcended the modes neither hates these effects when they arise in the body and mind, nor yearns for them when they are absent.

This is a subtle but profound teaching. The transcendent person does not try to forcibly suppress the modes or become agitated when their effects appear. When the body naturally feels alert and clear (sattva), or driven to activity (rajas), or sluggish (tamas), the liberated soul observes these movements without identifying with them. Similarly, when any of these states passes, there is no longing for its return.

This equanimity arises because the transcendent person understands that these are merely functions of the material body and mind, not of the true self. Just as one might observe weather patterns without being disturbed — sunshine, wind, or clouds come and go — the liberated soul watches the play of the modes within the body without being affected. This verse describes an internal posture of deep freedom that is the first hallmark of transcendence.