अनादित्वान्निर्गुणत्वात्परमात्मायमव्ययः ।शरीरस्थोऽपि कौन्तेय न करोति न लिप्यते ॥
anāditvānnirguṇatvātparamātmāyamavyayaḥ |śarīrastho'pi kaunteya na karoti na lipyate ||
Because it has no beginning and is free of the gunas, this supreme Self is imperishable. Though it dwells in the body, O son of Kunti, it neither acts nor is it tainted.
Explanation
Krishna is explaining to Arjuna how the Self (ātman) differs from the body and its activity. Because the Self has no beginning and is beyond the three qualities of nature (guṇa), it does not change or perish, and so the actions of the body do not stain it. Commentators differ on whether "supreme Self" (paramātman) here means the self within the body, called supreme in relation to the body, or God dwelling within each being.