त्रैगुण्यविषया वेदा निस्त्रैगुण्यो भवार्जुन ।
निर्द्वन्द्वो नित्यसत्त्वस्थो निर्योगक्षेम आत्मवान् ॥ ४५ ॥
निर्द्वन्द्वो नित्यसत्त्वस्थो निर्योगक्षेम आत्मवान् ॥ ४५ ॥
traiguṇyaviṣayā vedā nistraiguṇyo bhavārjuna .
nirdvandvo nityasattvastho niryogakṣema ātmavān .. 45 ..
The Vedas treat of the triad of the gunas. Be, O Arjuna, free from the triad of the gunas, free from pairs, free from acquisition and preservation, ever remaining in the Sattva (Goodness), and self-possessed.
Read the commentary
The Vedas * treat of the triad of the gunas; samsâra † is their subject. You, on the other hand, had better be free from the triad of the gunas, i.e., be without desires. Be free from pairs (dvandvas), from all mutually opposed objects which are the causes of pleasure and pain. Take your stand ever in the Sattva: practise purity. To him who is anxious to acquire what has not been acquired and to preserve what has been already acquired, practice of virtue is impossible; wherefore be not anxious about new acquisitions or about the preservation of the old ones. Be also self-possessed: be guarded. * This is the advice you have to follow when engaged in the performance of duty.
i e., the Karmakanda, the rituatstic portion of the Vedas.
Which is made up of virtuous, sinful, and mixed deeds and their results, all brought about by the interaction of the gunas.
Do not yield to the objects of the senses.
Karma-Yoga.
Question :—If all those endless advantage which are said to result from the Vedic rituals are not to be sought after, to what end are they to be performed and dedicated to the Īśvara?
(Answer) :—Listen to what follows :