In Bhagavad Gita 18.36, Krishna asks Arjuna to hear the three kinds of happiness, in which one rejoices through practice and reaches the end of sorrow.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
सुखं त्विदानीं त्रिविधं
शृणु मे भरतर्षभ
अभ्यासाद्रमते यत्र
दुःखान्तं च निगच्छति ॥ १८-३६ ॥
sukhaṃ tvidānīṃ trividhaṃ
śṛṇu me bharatarṣabha
abhyāsādramate yatra
duḥkhāntaṃ ca nigacchati
English transliteration sukham tvidaaneem trividham
shrinu me bharatarshabha
abhyaasaadramate yatra
duhkhaantam cha nigachchhati ॥ 18.36 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Now hear from Me, O best of the Bharatas, about the three kinds of happiness: that in which one rejoices through practice and reaches the end of sorrow.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| सुखम् sukham | happiness |
| तु tu | now |
| इदानीम् idānīm | now |
| त्रिविधम् trividham | three kinds |
| शृणु śṛṇu | hear |
| मे me | from Me |
| भरतर्षभ bharatarṣabha | O best of the Bharatas |
| अभ्यासात् abhyāsāt | through practice |
| रमते ramate | rejoices |
| यत्र yatra | in which |
| दुःखान्तम् duḥkhāntam | the end of sorrow duḥkha (sorrow) + antam (end) |
| च ca | and |
| निगच्छति nigacchati | reaches |
Word-wise Chanting
- su–khaṃ tvi–dā–nīṃ tri–vi–dhaṃ 8 syllables su-kham tvi-daa-neem tri-vi-dham
- śṛ–ṇu me bha–ra–tar–ṣa–bha | 8 syllables shri-nu me bha-ra-tar-sha-bha
- abh–yā–sād–ra–ma–te yat–ra 8 syllables abh-yaa-saad-ra-ma-te yat-ra
- duḥ–khān–taṃ ca ni–gac–cha–ti || 18-36 8 syllables duh-khaan-tam cha ni-gach-chha-ti
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 18 Verse 36
Context
Krishna introduces the three kinds of happiness (18.36–18.39).
Meaning
Happiness too has three forms. The highest kind is found through abhyāsa, sustained practice, and brings duḥkhānta, the end of sorrow.
Lasting happiness is cultivated, not stumbled upon. It grows through practice.
In Practice
Reflect on what kind of happiness you seek most: lasting or fleeting.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Liberation and Renunciation). 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.