In Bhagavad Gita 5.23, Krishna says one who can withstand the force of desire and anger here, before leaving the body, is a yogi and a happy person.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
शक्नोतीहैव यः सोढुं
प्राक्शरीरविमोक्षणात्
कामक्रोधोद्भवं वेगं
स युक्तः स सुखी नरः ॥ ५-२३ ॥
śaknotīhaiva yaḥ soḍhuṃ
prākśarīravimokṣaṇāt
kāmakrodhodbhavaṃ vegaṃ
sa yuktaḥ sa sukhī naraḥ
English transliteration shaknoteehaiva yah sodhum
praakshareeravimokshanaat
kaamakrodhodbhavam vegam
sa yuktah sa sukhee narah ॥ 5.23 ॥
Translation / Meaning
One who is able to withstand the force of desire and anger here in this life, before leaving the body, is a yogi; such a person is happy.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| शक्नोति śaknoti | is able |
| इह iha | here |
| एव eva | even |
| यः yaḥ | who |
| सोढुम् soḍhum | to withstand |
| प्राक् prāk | before |
| शरीरविमोक्षणात् śarīravimokṣaṇāt | leaving the body śarīra (body) + vimokṣaṇāt (from release) |
| कामक्रोधोद्भवम् kāmakrodhodbhavam | born of desire and anger kāma (desire) + krodha (anger) + udbhavam (born) |
| वेगम् vegam | force, surge |
| सः saḥ | he |
| युक्तः yuktaḥ | a yogi |
| सः saḥ | he |
| सुखी sukhī | happy |
| नरः naraḥ | person |
Word-wise Chanting
- śak–no–tī–hai–va yaḥ so–ḍhuṃ 8 syllables shak-no-tee-hai-va yah so-dhum
- prāk–śa–rī–ra–vi–mo–kṣa–ṇāt | 8 syllables praak-sha-ree-ra-vi-mo-ksha-naat
- kā–mak–ro–dhod–bha–vaṃ ve–gaṃ 8 syllables kaa-mak-ro-dhod-bha-vam ve-gam
- sa yuk–taḥ sa su–khī na–raḥ || 5-23 8 syllables sa yuk-tah sa su-khee na-rah
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 23
Context
Krishna names the practical test of a yogi (continuing 5.21–5.22).
Meaning
Desire and anger arise in everyone like a surge, vega, a powerful wave. The yogi is not one who never feels them, but one who can withstand them, soḍhum, without being carried away. Doing this “here, before leaving the body” means achieving freedom in this life, not postponing it.
The verse gives a clear, practical measure of spiritual progress. Can we feel the wave of anger or craving and let it pass without acting on it? Each time we do, we become freer and happier. The battlefield of the Gita is also the battlefield of daily emotions.
In Practice
When a wave of anger or craving arises today, breathe slowly for ten breaths before responding. Notice the wave subside.
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.