Sanskrit

अनादित्वान्निर्गुणत्वात्परमात्मायमव्ययः ।

शरीरस्थोऽपि कौन्तेय न करोति न लिप्यते ॥

13.32

Transliteration

anāditvānnirguṇatvātparamātmāyamavyayaḥ |

śarīrastho'pi kaunteya na karoti na lipyate ||

By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · @indic-transliteration/sanscript 1.3.3

Translation

Being without beginning and being devoid of (any) alities, the Supreme Self, imperishable, though dwelling in the body, O Arjuna, neither acts nor is tainted.

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Word by word

By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · claude-opus-5-5 · 2026-11-08

Explanation

Krishna explains why the supreme self is unaffected. It has no beginning, and it is beyond the qualities (guṇa) of nature, so it does not decay. Though it lives within the body, it neither performs actions nor is stained by them. The word lipyate, is smeared or tainted, suggests something that cannot stick. Whatever the body and mind do, good or bad, does not cling to the inmost self. This is not permission for careless action, but a description of the self's true nature, which right knowledge uncovers and right conduct supports.

By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · claude-opus-5-5 · 2026-11-08