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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 ›
Bhakti & surrenderChapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 18.53

Purification, realization and knowing Krishna by bhakti

Jīva · The soul

बुद्ध्या विश‍ुद्धया युक्तो धृत्यात्मानं नियम्य च ।

शब्दादीन्विषयांस्त्यक्त्वा रागद्वेषौ व्युदस्य च ॥ ५१ ॥

विविक्तसेवी लघ्वाशी यतवाक्कायमानस: ।

ध्यानयोगपरो नित्यं वैराग्यं समुपाश्रित: ॥ ५२ ॥

अहङ्कारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं परिग्रहम् ।

विमुच्य निर्मम: शान्तो ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते ॥ ५३ ॥

buddhyā viśuddhayā yukto

dhṛtyātmānaṁ niyamya ca

śabdādīn viṣayāṁs tyaktvā

rāga-dveṣau vyudasya ca

vivikta-sevī laghv-āśī

yata-vāk-kāya-mānasaḥ

dhyāna-yoga-paro nityaṁ

vairāgyaṁ samupāśritaḥ

ahaṅkāraṁ balaṁ darpaṁ

kāmaṁ krodhaṁ parigraham

vimucya nirmamaḥ śānto

brahma-bhūyāya kalpate

Translation

Being purified by his intelligence and controlling the mind with determination, giving up the objects of sense gratification, being freed from attachment and hatred, one who lives in a secluded place, who eats little, who controls his body, mind and power of speech, who is always in trance and who is detached, free from false ego, false strength, false pride, lust, anger, and acceptance of material things, free from false proprietorship, and peaceful – such a person is certainly elevated to the position of self-realization.

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

Peace Through Self-Realization

  1. 1

    A peaceful person, free from false ego, pride, lust, anger, and claims of ownership, reaches self-realization.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that such a person does not mistake the body for the self and is satisfied with what the Lord provides.

  3. 3

    Practice controlling your body, mind, and speech, and eat only what you need.

Key points from the purport

These notes cover verses 18.51–53

One achieves supreme perfection — ‘Brahma-bhuta’ platform and ‘peacefulness’ by:

1

Controlling the mind with determination

2

Purified by intelligence

3

Giving up sense objects

4

Freedom from attachment and hatred

5

Living in a secluded place

6

Eats little and controls his body, mind and power of speech

7

Freedom from all bad qualities born of material conceptions — False ego, false strength, false pride, lust, anger and acceptance of material things and false proprietorship

8

Always in trance and detached — Thus one achieves Supreme peace

Analogy for peace (Ref. Bg. 2.70) – Rivers flowing into ocean are compared to incessant flow of desires (purport)

Connected verses · 1

Texts 18.53 & 18.54

Krishna next describes the Brahma-Bhuta platform

Further reading

Confidential Knowledge: From Reaction-Free Work

Through jnana-yoga to brahman platform & pure devotional service

One practicing niskama karma yoga, detached work, attains goodness and the knowledge that he is not his body

He finally attains the Brahman platform

By serving Krishna on this platform, with devotion, one reaches the kingdom of God

Chapter 18, section V: Confidential Knowledge: From Reaction-Free Work
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. buddhyāwith the intelligence
  2. viśuddhayāfully purified
  3. yuktaḥengaged
  4. dhṛtyāby determination
  5. ātmānamthe self
  6. niyamyaregulating
  7. caalso
  8. śabda-ādīnsuch as sound
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: bhakti, śaraṇāgati.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 18.53 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to bhakti & surrender?

Practice

Offer one act today with devotion.

5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

Live this todayServe Under Kṛṣṇa’s DirectionA practice from BG 18.57, close to this verse

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