Krishna raises the bar dramatically. The Vedas operate within the realm of the three gunas — sattva, rajas, and tamas — the three fundamental qualities that color all of nature. Rise above all three, he tells Arjuna. Free yourself from the pull of opposites. Remain anchored in purity. Let go of the anxious need to acquire new things and guard what you already have. Be established in your own Self.
This is a tall order, and Krishna knows it. But he is not describing a destination that Arjuna must reach immediately. He is pointing to the direction of travel. Most people operate within the three gunas without even realizing it — sometimes pulled by inertia, sometimes by ambition, sometimes by goodness. Krishna says: recognize these forces, and then move beyond their grip entirely.
The phrase 'niryogakshema' deserves attention. 'Yoga' here means acquiring what you do not have; 'kshema' means protecting what you do have. Together, they capture the two anxieties that drive most human behavior — the fear of not getting enough and the fear of losing what you have. Freedom from both is what Krishna calls being 'atmavan' — self-possessed.