Title: Characteristics of a Guṇātita

14th Chapter: Verses 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

Our temperaments are determined by a combination of the three gunas – sattva guna, rajo guna and tamo guna. Sattva guna is the highest and most sublime. It manifests itself as wisdom and serenity. Rajo guna manifests itself as dynamism and ambition. Tamo guna manifests itself as laziness and delusion.

Highest spiritual evolution happens when we transcend the three gunas. Such a person is called Guṇātita. This is a state similar to Nirvana in Buddhism and that of Stitha-prajna in the 2nd chapter of the Gita.

Being established in sattva guna is not enough as there is a risk of descending down to rajo guna by the force of circumstances. Guṇātita is a state where there is no birth, no old age or sickness, and no death. He realizes his true identity as the Atman.

In the 21st verse, Arjuna asks: “What are the characteristics and signs of this Guṇātita, the one who has transcended the three gunas? How does such a person act and behave? How does one understand that he has gone beyond the three gunas?

In the 22nd to 25th verses, Lord Krishna gives a list of the essential characteristics of a Guṇātita. He lives in the world, is active and does all his duties, but remains serene and detached. He does not identify himself as involved in the action. He is established in the state of witness to his own actions. He remains in a state of perfect equanimity – not overjoyed when things are going well and not disturbed in unpleasant situations. He remains the same when talking to a friend or enemy and whether is honored or dishonored. He transcends the pairs of opposites.

Shankaracharya says that in spiritual literature, whenever a list of characteristics of a spiritually enlightened person is provided, there is only one purpose. These characteristics constitute the road by which we should travel to reach the goal that the enlightened person has reached. Any spiritual practice that we undertake to travel this road is never lost as described in the 6th chapter.

In the 6th chapter, Arjuna asks: “Suppose a person is making an earnest effort in spiritual practices but fails to attain perfection. What happens to such a person?” In answer to Arjuna’s questions, Lord Krishna says that the spiritual effort is never lost. It is like a seed that has been sowed and will sprout in a future life cycle. The person will be born again with the positive samskaras and these samskaras will force him to continue his spiritual journey in next life.

26th verse: “Those who practice this devotion to God with concentration, they transcend the three gunas and become one with Brahman.”

Spiritual progress requires both human effort and God’s grace. The latter is of no value until one is ready. The soil should be fertile for the seed to sprout. When we do noble activities or try to practice the characteristics of a spiritually enlightened person, we are making ourselves ready for God’s grace. We should first read about great ideas and contemplate on them (jnanam). Then we should imbibe them and make them part of our lives (vijnanam).

27th verse: “Those who with full one-pointed concentration attain the Atman, which is eternal and immortal, they attain eternal happiness and bliss. They become established in śhāśhvatasya dharmasya, eternal spiritual values.”

śhāśhvatasya dharmasya is a set of great spiritual qualities as described in the characteristics of a bhakta in the 12th chapter and as described in daivi-sampat in the 16th chapter. In Gita, there are various references to the characteristics of the person who has reached the highest state of spiritual evolution, such as Yogi, Guṇātita, Bhakta, Jnani. These characteristics are of the same personality, who has reached the highest level evolving through different channels.

In the 12th chapter, Lord Krishna describes eleven characteristics of an ideal devotee who is dear to him: (1) He does not have animosity or ill-feeling towards anyone (2) He is a friend of everyone (3) He is sympathetic towards everyone (4) He is free from ideas of possession (5) He looks upon happiness and unhappiness with equanimity of mind (6) He is forgiving (7) He is contented (8) He is always connected with the divine (9) He is self-controlled (10) He is strong-willed in pursuing his ideal (11) His mind and intellect are fixed on God. These are examples of śhāśhvatasya dharmasya – eternal spiritual values.

On friendliness, there is a discussion in one of the scriptures on who is one’s best friend. Two options are given: (1) One who is compassionate and helpful in need (2) Second, who is happy when you are happy and when you don’t need his help. The scripture says that the second is a truer friend. There is a possibility that the first one may not be happy in your happiness as he may begin to enjoy your dependence on him.

In the 16th chapter, Lord Krishna provides 26 characteristics of people endowed with divine wealth (daivi-sampat). Examples of such characteristics are fearlessness, purity, steadfastness, control of senses, interest in scriptures, practice of non-violence, compassion, modesty and absence of pride. These are examples of śhāśhvatasya dharmasya – eternal spiritual values.

In the Bhagavata Purana, there is a dialog between King Nimi and the Nava Yogis. In answer to the King’s question: “Who is an ideal devotee of God?”, one of the sages gives the following answer: “The one who sees the presence of God in all beings, and who sees the presence of all beings in God. “