Srimad Bhagavad Gita Shloka 13.33

“As the allpervading ether is not tainted due to its subtlety, so the self in the body is not tainted.”
Key Teaching: The self, like ether, remains untainted.
Theme: Guidance, Jnana Yoga, Moksha Sannyasa Yoga.
Description:
Krishna compares the self to the allpervading ether, which remains untainted due to its subtlety, stating the self in the body is similarly untainted. This verse, continuing 13.32, addresses Arjuna’s quest (2.9). The themes of guidance, as Krishna uses analogy, Jnana Yoga, as he emphasizes discernment, and Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, as he points to liberation, are central.

In the Mahabharata, Arjuna’s understanding (11.9–46) aligns with the self’s purity, contrasting Duryodhana’s delusion (1.3–11). The teaching aligns with Jnana Yoga (2.20), emphasizing the self’s transcendence, and builds on the self’s purity (13.32). Krishna uses ether as an analogy.

Philosophically, the verse reinforces the self’s purity, a theme refined with teachings on the self (2.20). Arjuna’s path is clarified by recognizing the self’s detachment. The Gita’s focus on Moksha Sannyasa Yoga underscores liberation through knowledge. The verse connects to teachings on nondoership (3.27).

Sanjaya’s narration ensures objective clarity. This verse serves as a metaphor for life’s purity, where the self transcends taint. Krishna’s teaching prepares readers to see the self’s subtlety, aligning with moksha. The analogy resonates with Arjuna’s need for clarity.