Chapter 5 · Verse 21

Path of Renunciation

बाह्यस्पर्शेष्वसक्तात्मा विन्दत्यात्मनि यत्सुखम्। स ब्रह्मयोगयुक्तात्मा सुखमक्षयमश्नुते

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

Language:

Translation

Unattached to the pleasures of external contact, he discovers the bliss that is within the Self; with his heart united with Brahman through yoga, he enjoys happiness that is inexhaustible.

Commentary

बाह्यस्पर्शेषु in external contacts? असक्तात्मा one whose mind is unattached? विन्दति finds? आत्मनि in,the Self? यत् (that) which? सुखम् happiness? सः he? ब्रह्मयोगयुक्तात्मा with the self engaged in the meditation of Brahman? सुखम् happiness? अक्षयम् endless? अश्नुते enjoys.Commentary When the mind is not attached to external objects of the senses? when one is deeply engaged in the contemplation of Brahman? he finds undecaying bliss in the Self within. If you want to enjoy the imperishable happiness of the Self within? you will have to withdraw the senses from their respective objects and plunge yourself in deep meditation on the Self within. This is the gist of this verse.