Bhagavad Gita · Karma Sannyasa Yoga — The Yoga of Renunciation

Chapter 5, Verse 20

"Bhagavad Gita 5.20" — meaning and explanation.

न प्रहृष्येत्प्रियं प्राप्य नोद्विजेत्प्राप्य चाप्रियम् | स्थिरबुद्धिरसम्मूढो ब्रह्मविद् ब्रह्मणि स्थितः

na prahṛṣyetpriyaṃ prāpya nodvijetprāpya cāpriyam . sthirabuddhirasammūḍho brahmavid brahmaṇi sthitaḥ

Meaning

5.20 Resting in Brahman, with steady intellect and undeluded, the knower of Brahman neither rejoiceth on obtaining what is pleasant nor grieveth on obtaining what is unpleasant.

।।5.20।। जो स्थिरबुद्धि, संमोहरहित ब्रह्मवित् पुरुष ब्रह्म में स्थित है, वह प्रिय वस्तु को प्राप्त होकर हर्षित नहीं होता और अप्रिय को पाकर उद्विग्न नहीं होता।।

Explanation

5.20 न not? प्रहृष्येत् should rejoice? प्रियम् the pleasant? प्राप्य having obtained? न not? उद्विजेत् should be troubled? प्राप्य having obtained? च and? अप्रियम् the unpleasant? स्थिरबुद्धिः one with steady intellect? असम्मूढः undeluded? ब्रह्मवित् knower of Brahman? ब्रह्मणि in Brahman? स्थितः established.Commentary This is the state of a Jivanmukta or a liberated sage or a Brahmana who identifies himself with the Self or Atman. He always has a balanced mind. He is never deluded. He has abandoned all actions as he rests in Brahman. He who has an unbalanced mind? who identifies himself with the body and mind feels pleasure and pain? exhilaration of spirits when he gets a pleasant object and grief when he obtains an unpleasant object. (Cf.VI.21?27?28XIII.12XIV.20)

Life Lesson

Study Bhagavad Gita 5.20 slowly, then express its central teaching through one thoughtful action in daily life.

Context

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5, verse 20, from Krishna's dialogue with Arjuna at Kurukshetra.

Bhagavad Gita 5.20

This page presents the Sanskrit verse, transliteration, Hindi meaning, English meaning, and a simple explanation for study. For a fuller understanding, read this shloka in sequence with the rest of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bhagavad Gita 5.20 mean?

5.20 Resting in Brahman, with steady intellect and undeluded, the knower of Brahman neither rejoiceth on obtaining what is pleasant nor grieveth on obtaining what is unpleasant.

What is the life lesson of this verse?

Study Bhagavad Gita 5.20 slowly, then express its central teaching through one thoughtful action in daily life.

What is the context of this verse?

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5, verse 20, from Krishna's dialogue with Arjuna at Kurukshetra.