In Bhagavad Gita 5.17, Krishna says that those whose intellect, self, steadfastness and goal are That, cleansed of impurities by knowledge, reach the state of no return.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
तद्बुद्धयस्तदात्मानस्
तन्निष्ठास्तत्परायणाः
गच्छन्त्यपुनरावृत्तिं
ज्ञाननिर्धूतकल्मषाः ॥ ५-१७ ॥
tadbuddhayastadātmānas
tanniṣṭhāstatparāyaṇāḥ
gacchantyapunarāvṛttiṃ
jñānanirdhūtakalmaṣāḥ
English transliteration tadbuddhayastadaatmaanas
tannishthaastatparaayanaah
gachchhantyapunaraavrittim
jnaananirdhootakalmashaah ॥ 5.17 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Those whose intellect is absorbed in That, whose self is That, who are established in That and devoted to That as the supreme goal, their impurities washed away by knowledge, reach the state from which there is no return.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| तद्बुद्धयः tadbuddhayaḥ | whose intellect is in That tat (That) + buddhayaḥ (intellects) |
| तदात्मानः tadātmānaḥ | whose self is That |
| तन्निष्ठाः tanniṣṭhāḥ | established in That |
| तत्परायणाः tatparāyaṇāḥ | devoted to That as the goal |
| गच्छन्ति gacchanti | reach |
| अपुनरावृत्तिम् apunarāvṛttim | the state of no return apunar (not again) + āvṛttim (return) |
| ज्ञाननिर्धूतकल्मषाः jñānanirdhūtakalmaṣāḥ | whose impurities are washed away by knowledge jñāna (knowledge) + nirdhūta (washed away) + kalmaṣāḥ (impurities) |
Word-wise Chanting
- tad–bud–dha–yas–ta–dāt–mā–nas– 8 syllables tad-bud-dha-yas-ta-daat-maa-nas-
- tan–niṣ–ṭhās–tat–pa–rā–ya–ṇāḥ | 8 syllables tan-nish-thaas-tat-pa-raa-ya-naah
- gac–chan–tya–pu–na–rā–vṛt–tiṃ 8 syllables gach-chhan-tya-pu-na-raa-vrit-tim
- jñā–na–nir–dhū–ta–kal–ma–ṣāḥ || 5-17 8 syllables jnaa-na-nir-dhoo-ta-kal-ma-shaah
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 5 Verse 17
Context
Krishna describes the final attainment of those illumined by knowledge (following 5.16).
Meaning
The verse describes total absorption in “That,” the Supreme: the intellect thinks of That, the sense of self rests in That, one’s steadiness is in That, and That is the only goal. Purified by knowledge, such seekers attain apunarāvṛtti, freedom from return to the cycle of birth and death.
The repetition of “That” is like a mantra, gathering every part of our being toward one centre. When thought, identity, commitment and purpose all point to the same reality, liberation is natural. Scattered aims lead to scattered lives; unified aim leads to freedom.
In Practice
Choose one simple phrase or name for the Divine and let it be the centre of your thoughts during quiet moments today.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 5: Karma Sannyasa Yoga (The Yoga of 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.