Bhagavad Gita 5.3
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 3 of 29
ज्ञेयः स नित्यसंन्यासी यो न द्वेष्टि न काङ्क्षति। निर्द्वन्द्वो हि महाबाहो सुखं बन्धात् प्रमुच्यते॥५-३॥
jñeyaḥ sa nitya-sannyāsī yo na dveṣṭi na kāṅkṣati | nirdvandvo hi mahā-bāho sukhaṃ bandhāt pramucyate || 5.3 ||
The eternal renunciant neither desires nor hates — free from all opposites, easily freed from bondage.
Word by word (6)
- jñeyaḥ
- — should be known as
- nitya-sannyāsī
- — eternal renunciant / perpetual sannyāsī
- na dveṣṭi
- — neither hates / does not dislike
- na kāṅkṣati
- — nor desires / does not crave
- nirdvandvaḥ
- — free from pairs of opposites (pleasure-pain, praise-blame)
- sukham bandhāt pramucyate
- — is easily freed from bondage
The one who neither craves pleasant things nor hates unpleasant things is the true and permanent renunciant (nityasannyāsī). Such a person, free from the push-pull of opposites, is easily liberated from all bondage.
A modern analogy
A surgeon who performs operations without fearing failure or craving praise operates in a state of nityasannyāsa — fully present, fully skilled, undisturbed by outcomes. The external role is intense; the inner stance is one of pure function.
What it does NOT mean
True renunciation is not about wearing robes or going to a forest. It is an inner state — the absence of craving and aversion. You can be a nityasannyāsī in a busy office if your mind is free from these reactions.
Take with you
- True renunciation is internal — it is the release of craving (kāṅkṣā) and aversion (dveṣa), not the abandonment of activity.
- Freedom from dvandvas (pairs of opposites: hot-cold, success-failure, praise-blame) is the hallmark of inner liberation.
- You can test your renunciation right now: what do you desperately want? What do you deeply dread? Those are your current bonds.
Public-domain translations (6) compare all →
"He who neither hates nor desires should be known as a perpetual sannyāsī; free from pairs of opposites, O mighty-armed, he is easily liberated from bondage." [1]
"He should be known as a perpetual Sannyasi, who neither hates nor desires; for, free from the pairs of opposites, O mighty-armed, he is easily set free from bondage." [4]
"He who neither hateth nor desireth may be known as the ever-renouncer; free from pairs of opposites, O mighty-armed, he is easily released from bondage." [5]
"He who, free from love and hatred and without desire, performs all his actions, may be considered always a renouncer; he is free from the pairs of opposites." [6]
"He who, without desire for fruits, works, untouched by praise or blame — call him sannyasi, the renouncer." [7]
"He is to be regarded as a constant devotee who neither loathes nor desires; for, O mighty-armed one! being free from pairs of opposites, he is easily delivered from bonds." [9]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
The Vedas deal in the three qualities of nature — go beyond them: free from opposites, self-possessed.
Unmoved in sorrow, ungreedy in joy, free from passion, fear, and anger — that is the steady sage.
Content with what comes by chance, beyond opposites, free from envy — equal in success and failure, not bound.
No thrill, no hatred, no grief, no craving — renouncing both good and evil — this full-devotee is dear to Me!
Uttering 'Tat,' without fruit-desire, mokṣa-seekers perform yajña, tapas, and various acts of dāna.
Sannyāsa = abandoning desire-motivated action; tyāga = abandoning fruits of ALL action — say the learned.
Verse 3 of 29 · back to Chapter 5