Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13, Verse 33

English Translation

As the all-pervading space is not defiled, because of its subtlety, similarly the Self, present everywhere in the body [The singular number is used to denote a class, i.e. all bodies. See S.-Tr.], is not defiled.

Detailed Commentary

13.33. Elucidation -- In the previous verse, Bhagavan described the absence of *kartritva* (doership) through the words 'na karoti' (does not act) and then the absence of *bhoktritva* (enjoyership/experiencership) through 'na lipyate' (is not tainted). In this verse, the absence of *bhoktritva* is described first; in the subsequent verse, the absence of *kartritva* will be discussed. The mention of *bhoktritva* first here is because a human being first determines the objective (fruit) of an action, and then acts. For this very reason, Bhagavan first negates *bhoktritva* here. Upon the renunciation of *bhoktritva*, the renunciation of *kartritva* occurs automatically. When the desire for results (*phalechha*) is abandoned, *kartritva* does not arise, even while performing actions. *Yatha sarvagatam saukshmyad akasham nopalipyate* (As the all-pervading Akasha, due to its subtlety, is not tainted) -- The subsequent elements of Akasha are Vayu (air), Tejas (fire), Jala (water), and Prithvi (earth). Akasha pervades these, but these four do not pervade Akasha; rather, they are contained within it. Akasha is subtle, and these four are gross. Akasha is boundless and infinite, whereas these four are limited and subject to modification (*vikara*), but Akasha remains free from modification. *Sarvatravasthito dehe tathatma nopalipyate* (Similarly, the Atma, abiding in all bodies, is not tainted) -- Just as Akasha, even while residing within these four, is not tainted by them, similarly the Atma, dwelling in all bodies, is not tainted by any body. The Atma remains untainted even while being all-pervading, because the Atma is eternal (*nitya*), all-pervading (*sarvagata*), steadfast (*sthira*), ancient (*sanatana*), unmanifest (*avyakta*), unthinkable (*achintya*), and immutable (*avikari*) (Gita 2.24-25), and by this imperishable Atma, the entire universe is pervaded (Gita 2.17). Connection -- In the previous verse, Bhagavan described the absence of *bhoktritva* in the Atma; now, in the subsequent verse, He will explain the absence of *kartritva* in the Atma.