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Chapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation · 78 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Nature & guṇasChapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 18.39

Knowledge, action, determination and happiness in the modes

Prakṛti · Material nature

यदग्रे चानुबन्धे च सुखं मोहनमात्मन: ।

निद्रालस्यप्रमादोत्थं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥ ३९ ॥

yad agre cānubandhe ca

sukhaṁ mohanam ātmanaḥ

nidrālasya-pramādotthaṁ

tat tāmasam udāhṛtam

Translation

And that happiness which is blind to self-realization, which is delusion from beginning to end and which arises from sleep, laziness and illusion is said to be of the nature of ignorance.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Happiness in Ignorance

  1. 1

    Happiness from sleep, laziness and illusion is blind to self-realization and is in the mode of ignorance.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that ignorance brings no real happiness—only distress from beginning to end.

  3. 3

    Do not mistake pleasure in laziness and sleep for real happiness.

Key points from the purport

Happiness in ignorance

Blind to self realisation

Delusion from beginning to end

Arise from sleep, laziness, illusion

Illusion – No idea how to act and how not to act

Difference between passion and ignorance – In the mode of passion there might be some kind of ephemeral happiness in the beginning and at the end distress, but for one in ignorance there is only distress both in the beginning and at the end

LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 18.39 & 18.40 — Krishna next offers a one-verse restatement of the verses He has just spoken, and thus He summarizes the influence of the modes of nature.

Further reading

The Modes Control All Activities

One’s work according to the five factors mentioned above is dictated by the three modes of material nature

This includes:

One’s knowledge (19-22) o One’s action (23-26)

One’s performance of action (27-28) o One’s understandings (29-32)

One’s determination(33-35) o One’s happiness (36-39)

All activities within the universe are thus controlled by the three modes SAKAMA TO NISKAMA KARMA YOGA

Chapter 18, section III: The Modes Control All Activities
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yatthat which
  2. agrein the beginning
  3. caalso
  4. anubandheat the end
  5. caalso
  6. sukhamhappiness
  7. mohanamillusory
  8. ātmanaḥof the self
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: prakṛti, guṇa.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 18.39 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to nature & guṇas?

Practice

Observe which mode shaped your last decision.

5

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 18 ›
6

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

Live this todayWorship Kṛṣṇa Through Your WorkA practice from BG 18.46, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.