In Bhagavad Gita 15.5, Krishna says those free from pride and delusion, who have conquered attachment, are devoted to the Self, free from desires and the pairs of opposites, reach that imperishable goal.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
निर्मानमोहा जितसङ्गदोषा
अध्यात्मनित्या विनिवृत्तकामाः
द्वन्द्वैर्विमुक्ताः सुखदुःखसंज्ञै-
र्गच्छन्त्यमूढाः पदमव्ययं तत् ॥ १५-५ ॥
nirmānamohā jitasaṅgadoṣā
adhyātmanityā vinivṛttakāmāḥ
dvandvairvimuktāḥ sukhaduḥkhasaṃjñai-
rgacchantyamūḍhāḥ padamavyayaṃ tat
English transliteration nirmaanamohaa jitasangadoshaa
adhyaatmanityaa vinivrittakaamaah
dvandvairvimuktaah sukhaduhkhasamjnai-
rgachchhantyamoodhaah padamavyayam tat ॥ 15.5 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Free from pride and delusion, having conquered the evil of attachment, ever dwelling in the Self, with desires turned away, freed from the pairs of opposites called pleasure and pain, the undeluded reach that imperishable goal.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| निर्मानमोहाः nirmānamohāḥ | free from pride and delusion nir (free) + māna (pride) + mohāḥ (delusion) |
| जितसङ्गदोषाः jitasaṅgadoṣāḥ | having conquered the evil of attachment jita (conquered) + saṅga (attachment) + doṣāḥ (evil) |
| अध्यात्मनित्याः adhyātmanityāḥ | ever dwelling in the Self adhyātma (the Self) + nityāḥ (ever) |
| विनिवृत्तकामाः vinivṛttakāmāḥ | with desires turned away vinivṛtta (turned away) + kāmāḥ (desires) |
| द्वन्द्वैः dvandvaiḥ | from the pairs of opposites |
| विमुक्ताः vimuktāḥ | freed |
| सुखदुःखसंज्ञैः sukhaduḥkhasaṃjñaiḥ | called pleasure and pain sukha (pleasure) + duḥkha (pain) + saṃjñaiḥ (called) |
| गच्छन्ति gacchanti | reach |
| अमूढाः amūḍhāḥ | the undeluded |
| पदम् padam | goal |
| अव्ययम् avyayam | imperishable |
| तत् tat | that |
Word-wise Chanting
- nir–mā–na–mo–hā ji–ta–saṅ–ga–do–ṣā 11 syllables nir-maa-na-mo-haa ji-ta-san-ga-do-shaa
- adh–yāt–ma–nit–yā vi–ni–vṛt–ta–kā–māḥ | 11 syllables adh-yaat-ma-nit-yaa vi-ni-vrit-ta-kaa-maah
- dvan–dvair–vi–muk–tāḥ su–kha–duḥ–kha–saṃ–jñai– 11 syllables dvan-dvair-vi-muk-taah su-kha-duh-kha-sam-jnai-
- rgac–chan–tya–mū–ḍhāḥ pa–da–mav–ya–yaṃ tat || 15-5 11 syllables rgach-chhan-tya-moo-dhaah pa-da-mav-ya-yam tat
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 15 Verse 5
Context
Krishna describes those who reach the eternal goal.
Meaning
The qualities that lead beyond the tree are listed: freedom from māna, pride, and moha, confusion; victory over attachment; constant dwelling in the Self; desires stilled; and freedom from the dvandvas, the pairs like pleasure and pain. Such amūḍha, clear-sighted people reach the eternal goal.
This verse is a concise summary of the whole spiritual path. Each phrase is a practice to cultivate.
In Practice
Choose one phrase from this verse and make it your focus for the week.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 15: Purushottama Yoga (The Supreme Person). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.