Supreme detachment is the absence of desire for the guṇas, arising from knowledge of the Puruṣa.

This sutra describes para-vairāgya, the highest detachment. While ordinary detachment (sutra 1.15) implies not craving worldly objects, supreme detachment goes further: it is complete freedom from desire toward the fundamental qualities of nature (guṇas: sattva, rajas, tamas).

This level of detachment does not arise from effort but from direct knowledge of the Puruṣa — pure consciousness, the observer who is beyond all natural manifestation.

When one realizes that the true Self is untouched by any quality of nature, desire toward the guṇas simply dissolves. It is a natural, unforced detachment.