कैर्लिङ्गैस्त्रीन्गुणानेतानतीतो भवति प्रभो ।
किमाचारः कथं चैतांस्त्रीन्गुणानतिवर्तते ॥ १४.२१ ॥

kair-liṅgais-trīn-guṇān-etān-atīto bhavati prabho |
kim-ācāra: kathaṃ caitāṃs-trīn-guṇān-ativartate || 14.21 ||

Process of transcendence

Right at this point, Arjuna raises a question, as he did in the second chapter, when Krishna pictured the climax of Yogic sādhanā and accomplishment (2.53). If Arjuna’s enquiry then was about the sthitaprajña and sthita-dhī (one of stable-mindedness), here the enquiry is related to transcendence of the guṇa influences and effects. Arjuna’s words are quite relevant and to the point:

O Lord, what are the features through which one is able to transcend these three guṇas? How, and by undertaking what, does one transcend these three guṇas?

Arjuna wants to know the art and process by which the seeker can rise above the irresistible guṇas. What are the features and excellences that distinguish the Knower who is able to rise above the clutch of guṇas?

Then, preserving his inner transcendence, how does he live and move in the world, how does he interact with the world? Arjuna also wants to know how spiritual sādhanā can result in such evident victory over the powerfully operative guṇas. Can the inner spiritual wisdom have such visible worldly effects?