Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan

So by going beyond modes one will attain immortality.

So after describing this Krishna more and less has completed His discussion we remember that 14th chapter didn’t start with any specific question from Arjuna. Krishna has completed speaking in 13 Chapter how if one understand difference between Kshetra and Kshtra-jna and one understand the process of liberation from it through Jyana-Chakchu then one will go beyond matter, one will attain the supreme destination.

So there also Krishna has talked about in 13.22 that what binds soul with body is the modes, Bhunkte Prakriti Jan Guna Karana Guna Sangoasya Sad Asad yoni janma su`, because of the contact with the modes, attachment with the modes, association with the modes. So what are those gunas how do they binds so Krishna speaks on his own, without Arjuna asking a question to explain concepts more clearly to Arjuna, so in the 14th chapter beginning Arjuna didn’t ask a question but here he will ask a question now. Krishna has analyzed the modes, He has talked about the three modes and He has talked about the state beyond the three modes, now Arjuna will ask the question how one can transcend the three modes and attain destination which is beyond the three modes:

Bg 14.21

arjuna uvāca
kair liṅgais trīn guṇān etān
atīto bhavati prabho
kim-ācāraḥ kathaṁ caitāṁs
trīn guṇān ativartate

Synonyms: 

arjunaḥ uvāca — Arjuna said; kaiḥ — by which; liṅgaiḥ — symptoms; trīn — three; guṇān — qualities; etān — all these; atītaḥ — having transcended; bhavati — is; prabho — O my Lord; kim — what; ācāraḥ — behavior; katham — how; ca — also; etān — these; trīn — three; guṇān — qualities; ativartate — transcends.

Translation: 

Arjuna inquired: O my dear Lord, by which symptoms is one known who is transcendental to these three modes? What is his behavior? And how does he transcend the modes of nature?

kair liṅgais, what other characteristics word linga means gender which also a bodily characteristics 

trīn guṇān etān, these three modes

atīto bhavati prabho, what are the characteristics of one who has transcended the modes

kim-ācāraḥ, what are the behavior 

so linga refers to internal characteristics

ācārah refers to external characteristics i.e. the behavior

kathaṁ caitāṁs trīn guṇān ativartate, and how can one go beyond the three modes, this Krishna will answer by practice of devotional service 

kair liṅgais – what are the internal characteristics – that will be answered in 22 and 23

kim-ācāraḥ -how are the behavior of such a person will be answered in 24 and 25

kathaṁ caitāṁs – how can one transcend the modes – will be answered in 26

End of transcription.