In Bhagavad Gita 18.37, Krishna says happiness that is like poison at first but like nectar in the end, born of the clarity of one’s own mind, is sattvic.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यत्तदग्रे विषमिव
परिणामेऽमृतोपमम्
तत्सुखं सात्त्विकं प्रोक्तम्
आत्मबुद्धिप्रसादजम् ॥ १८-३७ ॥
yattadagre viṣamiva
pariṇāme’mṛtopamam
tatsukhaṃ sāttvikaṃ proktam
ātmabuddhiprasādajam
English transliteration yattadagre vishamiva
parinaame’mritopamam
tatsukham saattvikam proktam
aatmabuddhiprasaadajam ॥ 18.37 ॥
Translation / Meaning
That happiness which is like poison at first but like nectar in the end, born of the clarity of one’s own mind, is declared to be sattvic.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यत् yat | which |
| तत् tat | that |
| अग्रे agre | at first |
| विषम् viṣam | poison |
| इव iva | like |
| परिणामे pariṇāme | in the end |
| अमृतोपमम् amṛtopamam | like nectar amṛta (nectar) + upamam (like) |
| तत् tat | that |
| सुखम् sukham | happiness |
| सात्त्विकम् sāttvikam | sattvic |
| प्रोक्तम् proktam | is declared |
| आत्मबुद्धिप्रसादजम् ātmabuddhiprasādajam | born of the clarity of one’s own mind ātma (own) + buddhi (mind) + prasāda (clarity) + jam (born) |
Word-wise Chanting
- yat–ta–dag–re vi–ṣa–mi–va 8 syllables yat-ta-dag-re vi-sha-mi-va
- pa–ri–ṇā–me–‘mṛ–to–pa–mam | 8 syllables pa-ri-naa-me-‘mri-to-pa-mam
- tat–su–khaṃ sāt–tvi–kaṃ prok–tam– 8 syllables tat-su-kham saat-tvi-kam prok-tam-
- āt–ma–bud–dhip–ra–sā–da–jam || 18-37 8 syllables aat-ma-bud-dhip-ra-saa-da-jam
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 37
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of happiness (18.36–18.39).
Meaning
Sāttvika sukha is often difficult at the start, viṣam iva, like poison, because it requires discipline. In the end it becomes amṛta, nectar. It arises from ātma-buddhi-prasāda, the serenity of a purified mind.
Like learning an instrument or keeping a meditation practice, the beginning is hard, but the fruit is lasting joy.
In Practice
Persist today in one good habit that feels difficult now, trusting its sweet result.
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.