śrī-bhagavān uvāca prakāśaṁ ca pravṛttiṁ ca moham eva ca pāṇḍava na dveṣṭi sampravṛttāni na nivṛttāni kāṅkṣati
"The Blessed Lord said: One who does not hate illumination, activity, or delusion when they are present, nor long for them when they are absent, O Pandava—"
What This Means:
The one beyond gunas neither hates sattva, rajas, or tamas when they arise, nor craves them when they're absent. They remain neutral to all guna-states—not fighting any, not seeking any.
Going Deeper:
First mark of the gunatita (beyond gunas): 'prakāśam ca pravṛttim ca moham'—illumination (sattva), activity (rajas), delusion (tamas). 'Na dveṣṭi sampravṛttāni'—doesn't hate them when they arise. 'Na nivṛttāni kāṅkṣati'—doesn't desire them when absent. Complete equanimity toward all guna-states. They come and go in the body-mind; the Self watches without preference.
How To Apply This:
When clarity comes, don't cling. When agitation comes, don't fight. When dullness comes, don't hate yourself. All states are temporary guna-manifestations. Your practice is not to prefer one state but to be the awareness that accepts all.
Key Sanskrit Terms: