Chapter 5, Verse 21 (Bhagavad Gita 5.21)
Chapter 5: Karm Sanyās Yog – Path of Renunciation
Sanskrit Shloka
बाह्यस्पर्शेष्वसक्तात्मा विन्दत्यात्मनि यत्सुखम्। स ब्रह्मयोगयुक्तात्मा सुखमक्षयमश्नुते
Transliteration
bāhya-sparśheṣhvasaktātmā vindatyātmani yat sukham sa brahma-yoga-yuktātmā sukham akṣhayam aśhnute
Word Meanings
bāhya-sparśheṣhu—external sense pleasure; asakta-ātmā—those who are unattached; vindati—find; ātmani—in the self; yat—which; sukham—bliss; saḥ—that person; brahma-yoga yukta-ātmā—those who are united with God through yog; sukham—happiness; akṣhayam—unlimited; aśhnute—experiences
Translation
One whose mind is unattached to external sense objects finds the joy that resides within the Self; being united with the Divine through meditation, he experiences unending happiness.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse reveals that true happiness is not an acquisition from the external world, but a natural state that emerges when the mind is withdrawn from sensory cravings. Most human suffering stems from the 'addiction' to sensory stimulation, which provides only fleeting pleasure. By shifting one's focus inward and anchoring the consciousness in the absolute reality of Brahman, the practitioner transcends the limitations of time and circumstance. This transformation fosters an enduring state of bliss that remains unshaken by life's dualities. Ultimately, it teaches that liberation is the simple act of recognizing the internal source of peace that has always been present.