Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5
Author Kedi Ganapati
Shloka 5:1
संन्यासं कर्मणां कृष्ण पुनर्योगं च शंससि ।
यच्छ्रेय एतयोरेकं तन्मे ब्रूहि सुनिश्चितम् ॥ ५:१ ॥
sannyasam karmanam krishna punar yogam cha shamsasi
yac chreya etayor ekam tan me bruhi sunishchitam
Translation
Arjuna said: O Krishna, You praise the renunciation of actions and also the path of yoga (selfless action). Tell me decisively which of these two is better.
Conversation
Shloka 5:2
संन्यासः कर्मयोगश्च निःश्रेयसकरावुभौ ।
तयोस्तु कर्मसंन्यासात्कर्मयोगो विशिष्यते ॥ ५:२ ॥
sannyasah karma-yogash cha nihshreyasa-karav ubhau
tayos tu karma-sannyasat karma-yogo vishishyate
Translation
The Blessed Lord said: Both renunciation of actions and the path of selfless action lead to the highest good. But of the two, karma-yoga is superior to the renunciation of actions.
Conversation
Shloka 5:3
निर्द्वन्द्वो हि महाबाहो सुखं बन्धात्प्रमुच्यते ॥ ५:३ ॥
nirdvandvo hi maha-baho sukham bandhat pramuchyate
Translation
Know that one who neither hates nor desires is a true renunciant. Free from the pairs of opposites, O mighty-armed one, such a person is easily liberated from bondage.
Conversation
Shloka 5:4
एकमप्यास्थितः सम्यगुभयोर्विन्दते फलम् ॥ ५:४ ॥
ekam apy asthitah samyag ubhayor vindate phalam
Translation
Only the unwise speak of Sankhya and Yoga as different. One who is firmly established in either attains the fruit of both.
Conversation
Shloka 5:5
एकं सांख्यं च योगं च यः पश्यति स पश्यति ॥ ५:५ ॥
ekam sankhyam cha yogam cha yah pashyati sa pashyati
Translation
The state attained through Sankhya is also reached through Yoga. One who sees Sankhya and Yoga as one truly sees.
Conversation
Shloka 5:6
योगयुक्तो मुनिर्ब्रह्म नचिरेणाधिगच्छति ॥ ५:६ ॥
yoga-yukto munir brahma na chirenadhigacchati
Translation
Renunciation without yoga is difficult to attain, O mighty-armed one. One who is devoted to yoga quickly reaches Brahman.
Conversation
Shloka 5:7
सर्वभूतात्मभूतात्मा कुर्वन्नपि न लिप्यते ॥ ५:७ ॥
sarva-bhutatma-bhutatma kurvann api na lipyate
Translation
One established in yoga, with a purified mind, self-controlled, and master of the senses, who sees the Self in all beings, is not affected even while performing actions.
Conversation
Shloka 5:8
पश्यञ्शृण्वन्स्पृशञ्जिघ्रन्नश्नन्गच्छन्स्वपञ्श्वसन् ॥ ५:८ ॥
pashyan shrinvan sprishan jighrann ashnan gacchan svapan shvasan
Translation
A knower of truth, established in yoga, thinks, "I do nothing at all," even while seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, walking, sleeping, and breathing.
Conversation
Shloka 5:9
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेषु वर्तन्त इति धारयन् ॥ ५:९ ॥
indriyani indriyartheshu vartanta iti dharayan
Translation
While speaking, releasing, grasping, opening and closing the eyes, one understands that the senses alone are engaged with their respective objects.
Conversation
Shloka 5:10
लिप्यते न स पापेन पद्मपत्रमिवाम्भसा ॥ ५:१० ॥
lipyate na sa papena padma-patram ivambhasa
Translation
One who performs actions, offering them to Brahman and abandoning attachment, is not tainted by sin, just as a lotus leaf remains untouched by water.
Conversation
Shloka 5:11
योगिनः कर्म कुर्वन्ति सङ्गं त्यक्त्वात्मशुद्धये ॥ ५:११ ॥
yoginah karma kurvanti sangam tyaktvatma-shuddhaye
Translation
The yogis perform actions with the body, mind, intellect, and even the senses, abandoning attachment, for the purification of the self.
Conversation
Shloka 5:12
अयुक्तः कामकारेण फले सक्तो निबध्यते ॥ ५:१२ ॥
ayuktah kama-karena phale sakto nibadhyate
Translation
One established in yoga, having abandoned the fruits of actions, attains lasting peace. One who is not disciplined, driven by desire and attached to the results, becomes bound.
Conversation
Shloka 5:13
नवद्वारे पुरे देही नैव कुर्वन्न कारयन् ॥ ५:१३ ॥
nava-dvare pure dehi naiva kurvan na karayan
Translation
The self-controlled embodied being, mentally renouncing all actions, dwells happily in the city of nine gates, neither acting nor causing actions to be performed.
Conversation
Shloka 5:14
न कर्मफलसंयोगं स्वभावस्तु प्रवर्तते ॥ ५:१४ ॥
na karma-phala-samyogam svabhavas tu pravartate
Translation
The Lord neither creates the sense of doership nor actions nor the connection between actions and their results. It is one's own nature that operates.
Conversation
Shloka 5:15
अज्ञानेनावृतं ज्ञानं तेन मुह्यन्ति जन्तवः ॥ ५:१५ ॥
ajnanenavritam jnanam tena muhyanti jantavah
Translation
The All-pervading accepts neither anyone's sin nor anyone's virtue. Knowledge is covered by ignorance, and because of this, living beings become deluded.
Conversation
Shloka 5:16
तेषामादित्यवज्ज्ञानं प्रकाशयति तत्परम् ॥ ५:१६ ॥
tesham aditya-vaj jnanam prakashayati tat param
Translation
But for those whose ignorance has been destroyed by knowledge, that knowledge reveals the Supreme, just as the sun illuminates everything.
Conversation
Shloka 5:17
गच्छन्त्यपुनरावृत्तिं ज्ञाननिर्धूतकल्मषाः ॥ ५:१७ ॥
gacchanty apunar-avrittim jnana-nirdhuta-kalmashah
Translation
Those whose intellect is fixed on That, whose self is devoted to That, who are steadfast in That and take That as their supreme goal, become free from impurities through knowledge and attain the state from which there is no return.
Conversation
Shloka 5:18
शुनि चैव श्वपाके च पण्डिताः समदर्शिनः ॥ ५:१८ ॥
shuni chaiva shvapake cha panditah sama-darshinah
Translation
The wise see with equal vision a learned and humble Brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and even one who eats dogs.
Conversation
Shloka 5:19
निर्दोषं हि समं ब्रह्म तस्माद्ब्रह्मणि ते स्थिताः ॥ ५:१९ ॥
nirdosham hi samam brahma tasmad brahmani te sthitah
Translation
Even here in this life, creation is overcome by those whose minds remain established in equality. Brahman is free from defect and equal toward all; therefore, they abide in Brahman.
Conversation
Shloka 5:20
स्थिरबुद्धिरसम्मूढो ब्रह्मविद्ब्रह्मणि स्थितः ॥ ५:२० ॥
sthira-buddhir asammudho brahma-vid brahmani sthitah
Translation
One who knows Brahman, whose intellect is steady and free from delusion, neither rejoices on obtaining what is pleasant nor becomes disturbed on obtaining what is unpleasant.
Conversation
Shloka 5:21
स ब्रह्मयोगयुक्तात्मा सुखमक्षयमश्नुते ॥ ५:२१ ॥
sa brahma-yoga-yuktatma sukham akshayam ashnute
Translation
One whose mind is unattached to external sense objects finds happiness within the self. Being united with Brahman through yoga, such a person attains imperishable happiness.
Conversation
Shloka 5:22
आद्यन्तवन्तः कौन्तेय न तेषु रमते बुधः ॥ ५:२२ ॥
adyantavantah kaunteya na teshu ramate budhah
Translation
The pleasures born of contact with sense objects are indeed the source of suffering. They have a beginning and an end, O Kaunteya; therefore, the wise do not delight in them.
Conversation
Shloka 5:23
कामक्रोधोद्भवं वेगं स युक्तः स सुखी नरः ॥ ५:२३ ॥
kama-krodhodbhavam vegam sa yuktah sa sukhi narah
Translation
One who is able to endure, before leaving the body, the force arising from desire and anger is a disciplined person and a happy human being.
Conversation
Shloka 5:24
स योगी ब्रह्मनिर्वाणं ब्रह्मभूतोऽधिगच्छति ॥ ५:२४ ॥
sa yogi brahma-nirvanam brahma-bhuto'dhigacchati
Translation
One who finds happiness within, delights within, and has inner light is a yogi. Having become one with Brahman, such a person attains Brahman-nirvana.
Conversation
Shloka 5:25
छिन्नद्वैधा यतात्मानः सर्वभूतहिते रताः ॥ ५:२५ ॥
chhinna-dvaidha yatatmanah sarva-bhuta-hite ratah
Translation
The sages whose impurities have been destroyed, whose doubts are cut off, who have mastered themselves, and who delight in the welfare of all beings attain Brahman-nirvana.
Conversation
Shloka 5:26
अभितो ब्रह्मनिर्वाणं वर्तते विदितात्मनाम् ॥ ५:२६ ॥
abhito brahma-nirvanam vartate viditatmanam
Translation
For those ascetics who are free from desire and anger, whose minds are disciplined, and who know the Self, Brahman-nirvana exists on every side.
Conversation
Shloka 5:27
प्राणापानौ समौ कृत्वा नासाभ्यन्तरचारिणौ ॥ ५:२७ ॥
pranapanau samau kritva nasabhyantara-charinau
Translation
Keeping external sense objects outside, fixing the gaze between the eyebrows, and making the incoming and outgoing breaths move evenly within the nostrils—
Conversation
Shloka 5:28
विगतेच्छाभयक्रोधो यः सदा मुक्त एव सः ॥ ५:२८ ॥
vigateccha-bhaya-krodho yah sada mukta eva sah
Translation
The sage who has controlled the senses, mind, and intellect, who is devoted to liberation, and who is free from desire, fear, and anger is ever liberated.
Conversation
Shloka 5:29
सुहृदं सर्वभूतानां ज्ञात्वा मां शान्तिमृच्छति ॥ ५:२९ ॥
suhridam sarva-bhutanam jnatva mam shantim richchhati
Translation
Knowing Me as the enjoyer of sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all worlds, and the friend of all living beings, one attains peace.
Conversation
Note: Every interpretation published here is the original work of Kedi Ganapati alone. No other author, commentator, or interpreter has contributed to these explanations. These interpretations are based on Kedi Ganapati's own understanding of the Bhagavad Gita's verses through personal study, research, wisdom, and experience.