Bhagavad Gita 18.51
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 51 of 78
बुद्ध्या विशुद्धया युक्तो धृत्यात्मानं नियम्य च । शब्दादीन् विषयांस् त्यक्त्वा रागद्वेषौ व्युदस्य च ॥
buddhyā viśuddhayā yukto dhṛtyātmānaṃ niyamya ca | śabdādīn viṣayāṃs tyaktvā rāga-dveṣau vyudasya ca ||
Endued with pure buddhi, regulating self with dhṛti, renouncing sense-objects, setting aside rāga-dveṣa —
Word by word (3)
- buddhyā viśuddhayā yukto dhṛtyātmānaṃ niyamya ca
- — endued/connected with (yukto) purified intellect (buddhyā viśuddhayā = buddhi-that-is-purified), and (ca) restraining/regulating (niyamya) the self/inner instrument (ātmānam) with firmness/fortitude (dhṛtyā = through dhṛti) — first two qualities of the brahma-bhūta path: pure buddhi + dhṛti-regulated self
- śabdādīn viṣayāṃs tyaktvā rāga-dveṣau vyudasya ca
- — relinquishing/abandoning (tyaktvā) sense-objects starting with sound (śabda-ādīn = sound-and-others; the five sense-objects: śabda/sound, sparśa/touch, rūpa/form, rasa/taste, gandha/smell) and (ca) throwing away/setting aside (vyudasya = from vi + ud + as = throwing out) rāga (attraction) and dveṣa (aversion) — two more: renunciation of sense-objects + freedom from rāga-dveṣa
- buddhyā viśuddhayā
- — with purified buddhi; viśuddha = fully purified (vi + śudh = thoroughly-pure); the purified buddhi is the first prerequisite for brahma-bhūta; it is purified by sattva-cultivation, abhyāsa (practice), and the preceding steps (V49's jitātmā, asakta-buddhi, vigata-spṛha); this verse begins the qualitative description Krishna promised in V50
Endued with a pure intellect, restraining the self with firmness, abandoning sense-objects starting with sound, and setting aside rāga and dveṣa —
A modern analogy
This verse begins a two-verse portrait of the candidate for brahma-bhūta (becoming Brahman) — together with the following verse it forms the qualifications, and the verse after that gives the final inner renunciations. The person moving from naiṣkarmya-siddhi (the perfection of action-without-residue) toward brahma-prāpti (attaining Brahman) demonstrates these qualities: inner purity (viśuddha buddhi — a fully purified intellect), self-regulation through dhṛti (steady resolve), detachment from sense-objects, and freedom from the push-pull of attraction-aversion (rāga-dveṣa).
Public-domain translations (4) compare all →
Endued with a pure reason, controlling the self with firmness, abandoning sound and other objects, and laying aside love and hatred; [1]
Endued with a pure intellect; subduing the body and the senses with fortitude; relinquishing sound and such other sense-objects; abandoning attraction and hatred; [4]
MISSING from index. [9]
Endued with a pure mind, and restraining his self by constancy, renouncing sound and other objects of sense, and casting off affection and aversion... [13]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Learn briefly from Me how one who has attained siddhi attains Brahman — the supreme culmination of knowledge.
By bhakti one truly knows what and who I am; then knowing Me truly, one enters into Me immediately.
This knowledge, more secret than all secrets, has been declared to you — reflect on it fully and act as you wish.
Abandon all dharmas, take refuge in Me alone — I will liberate you from all sins; do not grieve.
Kṣatriya dharma: bravery, vigor, fortitude, skill, not-fleeing-battle, generosity, lordly bearing — born of svabhāva.
Sāttvic karma: prescribed, attachment-free, without rāga-dveṣa, by one not seeking fruit.
Verse 51 of 78 · back to Chapter 18