mānāpamānayos tulyas tulyo mitrāri-pakṣayoḥ sarvārambha-parityāgī guṇātītaḥ sa ucyate
"Equal in honor and dishonor, equal toward friend and foe, renouncing all undertakings—such a one is said to have transcended the gunas."
What This Means:
Equal in honor and dishonor, treating friend and enemy the same, having renounced all self-initiated projects—such a person is declared 'gunatita'—beyond the gunas.
Going Deeper:
'Mānāpamānayoḥ tulyaḥ'—equal in honor and dishonor (social status doesn't affect them). 'Tulyo mitrāri-pakṣayoḥ'—equal toward friend and enemy camps (no tribal identification). 'Sarvārambha-parityāgī'—renouncer of all undertakings (not compulsively starting new projects). 'Guṇātītaḥ sa ucyate'—that one is called transcender of gunas. The answer to Arjuna's question about 'marks.'
How To Apply This:
The gunatita isn't a hermit—they can live in society—but they're free from society's values. They don't need to be honored, don't fear dishonor, have no enemies. This isn't suppression but genuine transcendence.
Key Sanskrit Terms: