In Bhagavad Gita 5.28, Krishna says the sage who has controlled senses, mind and intellect, intent on liberation and free from desire, fear and anger, is forever free.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यतेन्द्रियमनोबुद्धिर्
मुनिर्मोक्षपरायणः
विगतेच्छाभयक्रोधो
यः सदा मुक्त एव सः ॥ ५-२८ ॥
yatendriyamanobuddhir
munirmokṣaparāyaṇaḥ
vigatecchābhayakrodho
yaḥ sadā mukta eva saḥ
English transliteration yatendriyamanobuddhir
munirmokshaparaayanah
vigatechchhaabhayakrodho
yah sadaa mukta eva sah ॥ 5.28 ॥
Translation / Meaning
with senses, mind and intellect controlled, the sage who is intent on liberation, and from whom desire, fear and anger have departed, is indeed always free.
Verses 5.27–5.28 form one sentence describing meditation.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यतेन्द्रियमनोबुद्धिः yatendriyamanobuddhiḥ | with senses, mind and intellect controlled yata (controlled) + indriya (senses) + manaḥ (mind) + buddhiḥ (intellect) |
| मुनिः muniḥ | the sage |
| मोक्षपरायणः mokṣaparāyaṇaḥ | intent on liberation mokṣa (liberation) + parāyaṇaḥ (intent) |
| विगतेच्छाभयक्रोधः vigatecchābhayakrodhaḥ | free from desire, fear and anger vigata (departed) + icchā (desire) + bhaya (fear) + krodhaḥ (anger) |
| यः yaḥ | who |
| सदा sadā | always |
| मुक्तः muktaḥ | free |
| एव eva | indeed |
| सः saḥ | he |
Word-wise Chanting
- ya–ten–dri–ya–ma–no–bud–dhir– 8 syllables ya-ten-dri-ya-ma-no-bud-dhir-
- mu–nir–mo–kṣa–pa–rā–ya–ṇaḥ | 8 syllables mu-nir-mo-ksha-pa-raa-ya-nah
- vi–ga–tec–chā–bha–yak–ro–dho 8 syllables vi-ga-tech-chhaa-bha-yak-ro-dho
- yaḥ sa–dā muk–ta e–va saḥ || 5-28 8 syllables yah sa-daa muk-ta e-va sah
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 28
Context
This verse completes the description of the meditator begun in 5.27.
Meaning
The sage who practises meditation in this way brings senses, mind and intellect under control and makes liberation the supreme goal. Desire, fear and anger fall away. Such a person is sadā mukta, always free, not only after death but in every moment.
Freedom is described here as a living reality, not a future reward. It grows naturally from a practice that combines meditation with the release of negative emotions. The next verse will reveal its final secret: knowing the Divine as the friend of all.
In Practice
After meditating today, carry its calm into your activities. Notice whether desire, fear and anger have less hold on you.
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.