The Yoga of the Division of the Three Gunas

Arjuna asks a practical question: 'Kair liṅgais trīn guṇān etān atīto bhavati prabho'—by what signs (liṅgaiḥ) is one who has transcended (atītaḥ) these three gunas (trīn guṇān etān) recognized? 'Kim-ācāraḥ kathaṁ caitāṁs trīn guṇān ativartate'—what is his conduct (ācāraḥ), and how (kathaṁ) does he transcend (ativartate) these three gunas? This is Arjuna's natural question after hearing about transcendence: how do you recognize someone who has transcended? What do they do? How do they behave? This sets up Krishna's detailed answer in the next verses, which will describe the characteristics and conduct of one who has transcended all three gunas.