अनादित्वान्निर्गुणत्वात्परमात्मायमव्ययः ।शरीरस्थोऽपि कौन्तेय न करोति न लिप्यते ॥
anāditvān nirguṇatvāt paramātmāyam avyayaḥ |śarīra-stho 'pi kaunteya na karoti na lipyate ||
- अनादित्वात् · anāditvāt
- due to beginninglessness
- निर्गुणत्वात् · nirguṇatvāt
- due to freedom from qualities
- परमात्मा · paramātmā
- the supreme Self
- अव्ययः · avyayaḥ
- imperishable
- शरीरस्थः अपि · śarīra-sthaḥ api
- though dwelling in the body
- न करोति · na karoti
- does not act
- न लिप्यते · na lipyate
- is not stained
- कौन्तेय · kaunteya
- O son of Kunti
“Beginningless and free from qualities, this imperishable supreme Self — though dwelling in the body, O son of Kunti — neither acts nor is stained.”
— Original plain-language translation
IN SHORT Your deepest self stays pure and free, untouched by bodily troubles.
How can the stainless dwell in stain? By beginninglessness and qualitylessness — the Self is present without participating. Guilt and pride both lose their footing here; neither touches what merely witnesses. It is like sunlight falling inside a dusty kitchen without getting dirty or cooking the food itself.
— Reader's notes (original)