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श्री
ह्रीं
क्लीं
गं
ऐं
क्रीं
हूं
सौं
दुं
ॐ तत् सत्
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

Aligning Consciousness

Ch 2Verse 45
Adhyāya 2 Shloka 45

त्रैगुण्यविषया वेदा निस्त्रैगुण्यो भवार्जुन | निर्द्वन्द्वो नित्यसत्त्वस्थो निर्योगक्षेम आत्मवान् || ४५ ||

trai-guṇya-viṣayā vedā nistrai-guṇyo bhavārjuna | nirdvandvo nitya-sattva-stho niryoga-kṣema ātmavān || 45 ||

"The Vedas deal mainly with the subject of the three modes of material nature. O Arjuna, become transcendental to these three modes. Be free from all dualities and from all anxieties for gain and safety, and be established in the self."

Historical Context

The Direct Meaning

This is a radical, subversive injunction. Krishna tells Arjuna that the Vedas (the highest scriptures of their society) largely deal with the 'Trai-guṇya' (the three modes of material nature: Sattva, Rajas, Tamas). Because Arjuna seeks ultimate liberation, Krishna commands him to go beyond the holy scriptures: 'Nistrai-guṇyo bhava' (Be free from the three modes). He then gives a four-part instruction on how to do this: 1. Nirdvandvo (Free from duality), 2. Nitya-sattva-stho (Established in pure goodness/truth), 3. Niryoga-kṣema (Free from the anxiety of acquisition and preservation), 4. Ātmavān (Established in the Self).

Translated from the original Sanskrit text

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