13.32 Seated in the body, unstained Krishna speaks

अनादित्वान्निर्गुणत्वात्परमात्मायमव्ययः
शरीरस्थोऽपि कौन्तेय न करोति न लिप्यते

anāditvān nirguṇatvāt paramātmāyam avyayaḥ
śharīra-stho ’pi kaunteya na karoti na lipyate

Being without beginning and without the strands, this highest self does not perish. Though seated in the body, Arjuna, it does not act and is not stained.

Explanation

Seated in the body, and not acting.

Without beginning, without the strands, it does not perish; though it sits in the body, it neither acts nor is stained.

This is 5.13's nine-gated city stated as metaphysics rather than image. The tenant is present and uninvolved, and the next verse supplies the analogy that makes it thinkable.

Word by word

anāditvāt: being without beginning
nirguṇatvāt: being devoid of any material qualities
parama: the Supreme
ātmā: soul
ayam: this
avyayaḥ: imperishable
śharīra-sthaḥ: dwelling in the body
api: although
kaunteya: Arjun, the the son of Kunti
na: neither
karoti: acts
na: nor
lipyate: is tainted