उदासीनवदासीनो गुणैर्यो न विचाल्यते ।गुणा वर्तन्त इत्येवं योऽवतिष्ठति नेङ्गते ॥
udāsīnavad āsīno guṇair yo na vicālyate |guṇā vartanta ity evaṃ yo 'vatiṣṭhati neṅgate ||
- उदासीनवत् · udāsīnavat
- like a neutral onlooker
- आसीनः · āsīnaḥ
- seated, settled
- गुणैः · guṇaiḥ
- by the strands
- यः · yaḥ
- who
- न विचाल्यते · na vicālyate
- is not shaken
- गुणाः · guṇāḥ
- the strands
- वर्तन्ते · vartante
- are at work, revolve
- इति · iti
- thus
- अवतिष्ठति · avatiṣṭhati
- stands firm
- न इङ्गते · na iṅgate
- does not waver
“Seated like a neutral witness, unshaken by the strands — knowing it is only the strands at play — he stands firm and does not waver.”
— Original plain-language translation
The image is of a referee who watches the game without joining a side. 'The gunas are acting' becomes the sage's constant refrain. Stability comes not from controlling every ripple but from ceasing to mistake the ripples for oneself.
— Reader's notes (original)