Chapter 14 Shlokas 24, 25

समदुःखसुखः स्वस्थः समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः।

तुल्यप्रियाप्रियो धीरस्तुल्यनिन्दात्मसंस्तुतिः।।२४।।

मानापमानयोस्तुल्यस्तुल्यो मित्रारिपक्षयो:।

सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी गुणातीतः स उच्यते।।२५।।

He who is ever established in the Atma Self and looks impartially upon joy and sorrow alike, who views mud, stone and gold as equal, who is impartial towards both likes and dislikes, who remains unmoved by both praise and criticism and is equipoised in honour and dishonour, who is not partial towards either friend or foe and is devoid of any desire to initiate any activity, such a one is known as a gunatit.

Chapter 14 Shlokas 24, 25

समदुःखसुखः स्वस्थः समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः।

तुल्यप्रियाप्रियो धीरस्तुल्यनिन्दात्मसंस्तुतिः।।२४।।

मानापमानयोस्तुल्यस्तुल्यो मित्रारिपक्षयो:।

सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी गुणातीतः स उच्यते।।२५।। 

He who is ever established in the Atma Self and looks impartially upon joy and sorrow alike, who views mud, stone and gold as equal, who is impartial towards both likes and dislikes, who remains unmoved by both praise and criticism and is equipoised in honour and dishonour, who is not partial towards either friend or foe and is devoid of any desire to initiate any activity, such a one is known as a gunatit.

Look Kamla, first understand the essence of equanimity. Here they are speaking of the equanimity of the gunatit. Remember:

1. The gunatit has complete knowledge of the qualities.

2. He is indifferent towards himself.

3. He knows that it is the qualities which interact amongst each other.

4. He has no attachment with his body self.

5. He believes the body to be a creation of Prakriti.

6. He knows that the body is comprised of the three-fold qualities of Prakriti and thus he is devoid of attachment to the body.

7. He has no attachment with his own qualities, nor with the attributes of others.

8. He is uninfluenced by others’ attributes.

9. He neither denounces nor excessively acclaims the qualities of others, because he knows that these qualities are not in anybody’s control. They all form part of the interplay of the qualities of Prakriti.

10. Thus he is indifferent towards the qualities that bring honour and dishonour.

11. He is untouched by the qualities that result in friendship or enmity.

12. He is unaffected by the qualities that attract praise or censure.

13. He is unmoved by all qualities – the likeable and the repugnant.

Understand this carefully! Such a one is confronted by both – the desirable and the undesirable, by gold and dust – yet he remains untouched by both.

a) He is not influenced by either.

b) He is not ruffled by either.

c) He seeks no change.

d) He lays no claims on either.

e) He seeks neither for himself.

Knowing that the body itself is but a play of qualities, and that the world is a silent conglomeration of inert qualities, such a one retains his equanimity towards both. He eternally abides in the Atma Self and does not initiate any action or activity on his own.

Sarvarambha Parityagi (सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी)

To initiate any activity oneself displays:

a) one’s own desire;

b) one’s own motive;

c) one’s own concept or belief;

d) one’s own individuality;

e) one’s elevated opinion of one’s own intellect.

The sarvarambha parityagi does not consider himself to be superior to others, nor does he take credit for his personal acumen or stellar qualities. Since he desires nothing for his personal self, he sees no reason to initiate any project or activity.

1. He neither imparts knowledge on his own, nor does he endeavour to establish any institutions.

2. He seeks no importance in any activity.

3. If somebody asks a question, he replies in accordance with the knowledge he possesses.

4. He performs any task placed before him with his full capability.

5. In fact, such a one readily becomes a servitor – not a master.

Look Kamla, this is the state of a gunatit. This is the state of a sthit pragya and of one who transcends the material sphere to abide in the spirit.