In Bhagavad Gita 5.3, Krishna says that one who neither hates nor desires should be known as a constant renunciant; free from dualities, such a person is easily freed from bondage.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
ज्ञेयः स नित्यसंन्यासी
यो न द्वेष्टि न काङ्क्षति
निर्द्वन्द्वो हि महाबाहो
सुखं बन्धात्प्रमुच्यते ॥ ५-३ ॥
jñeyaḥ sa nityasaṃnyāsī
yo na dveṣṭi na kāṅkṣati
nirdvandvo hi mahābāho
sukhaṃ bandhātpramucyate
English transliteration jneyah sa nityasamnyaasee
yo na dveshti na kaankshati
nirdvandvo hi mahaabaaho
sukham bandhaatpramuchyate ॥ 5.3 ॥
Translation / Meaning
One who neither hates nor desires should be known as a constant renunciant. Free from the pairs of opposites, O mighty-armed, such a person is easily released from bondage.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ज्ञेयः jñeyaḥ | should be known |
| सः saḥ | he |
| नित्यसंन्यासी nityasaṃnyāsī | constant renunciant nitya (constant) + saṃnyāsī (renunciant) |
| यः yaḥ | who |
| न na | not |
| द्वेष्टि dveṣṭi | hates |
| न na | not |
| काङ्क्षति kāṅkṣati | desires |
| निर्द्वन्द्वः nirdvandvaḥ | free from opposites |
| हि hi | indeed |
| महाबाहो mahābāho | O mighty-armed |
| सुखम् sukham | easily |
| बन्धात् bandhāt | from bondage |
| प्रमुच्यते pramucyate | is released |
Word-wise Chanting
- jñe–yaḥ sa nit–ya–saṃn–yā–sī 8 syllables jne-yah sa nit-ya-samn-yaa-see
- yo na dveṣ–ṭi na kāṅ–kṣa–ti | 8 syllables yo na dvesh-ti na kaan-ksha-ti
- nir–dvan–dvo hi ma–hā–bā–ho 8 syllables nir-dvan-dvo hi ma-haa-baa-ho
- su–khaṃ ban–dhāt–pra–muc–ya–te || 5-3 8 syllables su-kham ban-dhaat-pra-much-ya-te
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 3
Context
Krishna explains why karma yoga contains true renunciation (following 5.2).
Meaning
Real renunciation is not a matter of clothes or lifestyle but of the heart. The one who has no hatred and no craving is a nitya-saṃnyāsī, a constant renunciant, even while living an active life. Free from dvandvas, the pairs of opposites, they are released from bondage sukham, easily, without strain.
This verse redefines renunciation. A monk who hates and craves is not truly renounced; a householder free from hatred and craving is. The inner state is what counts. And freedom becomes easy once the push and pull of likes and dislikes is gone.
In Practice
Notice one person or thing you strongly dislike and one you strongly crave. Practise holding both with a little more equanimity 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.