In Bhagavad Gita 5.20, Krishna says the knower of Brahman, steady in intellect and undeluded, neither rejoices on gaining what is pleasant nor is disturbed by what is unpleasant.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
न प्रहृष्येत्प्रियं प्राप्य
नोद्विजेत्प्राप्य चाप्रियम्
स्थिरबुद्धिरसम्मूढो
ब्रह्मविद् ब्रह्मणि स्थितः ॥ ५-२० ॥
na prahṛṣyetpriyaṃ prāpya
nodvijetprāpya cāpriyam
sthirabuddhirasammūḍho
brahmavid brahmaṇi sthitaḥ
English transliteration na prahrishyetpriyam praapya
nodvijetpraapya chaapriyam
sthirabuddhirasammoodho
brahmavid brahmani sthitah ॥ 5.20 ॥
Translation / Meaning
One who neither rejoices on obtaining what is pleasant nor grieves on obtaining what is unpleasant, steady in intellect and free from delusion, is a knower of Brahman established in Brahman.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| न na | not |
| प्रहृष्येत् prahṛṣyet | should rejoice |
| प्रियम् priyam | the pleasant |
| प्राप्य prāpya | obtaining |
| न na | not |
| उद्विजेत् udvijet | should be disturbed |
| प्राप्य prāpya | obtaining |
| च ca | and |
| अप्रियम् apriyam | the unpleasant |
| स्थिरबुद्धिः sthirabuddhiḥ | steady in intellect sthira (steady) + buddhiḥ (intellect) |
| असम्मूढः asammūḍhaḥ | undeluded |
| ब्रह्मवित् brahmavit | knower of Brahman |
| ब्रह्मणि brahmaṇi | in Brahman |
| स्थितः sthitaḥ | established |
Word-wise Chanting
- na pra–hṛṣ–yet–pri–yaṃ prāp–ya 8 syllables na pra-hrish-yet-pri-yam praap-ya
- nod–vi–jet–prāp–ya cāp–ri–yam | 8 syllables nod-vi-jet-praap-ya chaap-ri-yam
- sthi–ra–bud–dhi–ra–sam–mū–ḍho 8 syllables sthi-ra-bud-dhi-ra-sam-moo-dho
- brah–ma–vid brah–ma–ṇi sthi–taḥ || 5-20 8 syllables brah-ma-vid brah-ma-ni sthi-tah
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 20
Context
Krishna describes the emotional steadiness of one established in Brahman.
Meaning
The knower of Brahman remains balanced in all circumstances. Pleasant events do not cause excitement; unpleasant ones do not cause distress. The intellect is sthira, steady, and free from delusion. This balance is not effort but the natural result of being rooted in Brahman.
This echoes the description of the sthitaprajña in Chapter 2. Emotional stability is a sign of spiritual maturity. It is not coldness but depth: like the ocean, the surface may move while the depths remain calm.
In Practice
When something pleasant or unpleasant happens today, notice your reaction and gently return to a calm centre.
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.