In Bhagavad Gita 5.22, Krishna teaches that pleasures born of sense contact are sources of sorrow; they have a beginning and an end, and the wise do not delight in them.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
ये हि संस्पर्शजा भोगा
दुःखयोनय एव ते
आद्यन्तवन्तः कौन्तेय
न तेषु रमते बुधः ॥ ५-२२ ॥
ye hi saṃsparśajā bhogā
duḥkhayonaya eva te
ādyantavantaḥ kaunteya
na teṣu ramate budhaḥ
English transliteration ye hi samsparshajaa bhogaa
duhkhayonaya eva te
aadyantavantah kaunteya
na teshu ramate budhah ॥ 5.22 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The pleasures born of contact with sense objects are only sources of sorrow. They have a beginning and an end, O son of Kunti; the wise do not delight in them.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ये ye | which |
| हि hi | indeed |
| संस्पर्शजाः saṃsparśajāḥ | born of contact saṃsparśa (contact) + jāḥ (born) |
| भोगाः bhogāḥ | pleasures |
| दुःखयोनयः duḥkhayonayaḥ | sources of sorrow duḥkha (sorrow) + yonayaḥ (sources) |
| एव eva | only |
| ते te | they |
| आद्यन्तवन्तः ādyantavantaḥ | having beginning and end ādi (beginning) + anta (end) + vantaḥ (having) |
| कौन्तेय kaunteya | O son of Kuntī |
| न na | not |
| तेषु teṣu | in them |
| रमते ramate | delights |
| बुधः budhaḥ | the wise |
Word-wise Chanting
- ye hi saṃs–par–śa–jā bho–gā 8 syllables ye hi sams-par-sha-jaa bho-gaa
- duḥ–kha–yo–na–ya e–va te | 8 syllables duh-kha-yo-na-ya e-va te
- ād–yan–ta–van–taḥ kaun–te–ya 8 syllables aad-yan-ta-van-tah kaun-te-ya
- na te–ṣu ra–ma–te bu–dhaḥ || 5-22 8 syllables na te-shu ra-ma-te bu-dhah
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 22
Context
Krishna explains why the wise prefer inner joy (5.21) to sense pleasures.
Meaning
Pleasures of the senses are duḥkha-yoni, wombs of sorrow. They have a beginning and an end; when they end, we feel loss; while they last, we fear their ending; and they create craving for more. The budha, the wise one, sees this and does not invest their happiness in them.
This is not a rejection of the world but a clear-eyed assessment. Sense pleasures are not evil, but they cannot provide lasting fulfilment. The wise enjoy them lightly, without depending on them, and seek their deeper happiness in the Self.
In Practice
Next time you enjoy a pleasure, notice its beginning and its end, and the subtle craving that follows. Enjoy it lightly.
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.