In Bhagavad Gita 6.21, Krishna describes the infinite joy that is grasped by the intellect but beyond the senses; established in it, one never moves from the truth.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
सुखमात्यन्तिकं यत्तद्
बुद्धिग्राह्यमतीन्द्रियम्
वेत्ति यत्र न चैवायं
स्थितश्चलति तत्त्वतः ॥ ६-२१ ॥
sukhamātyantikaṃ yattad
buddhigrāhyamatīndriyam
vetti yatra na caivāyaṃ
sthitaścalati tattvataḥ
English transliteration sukhamaatyantikam yattad
buddhigraahyamateendriyam
vetti yatra na chaivaayam
sthitashchalati tattvatah ॥ 6.21 ॥
Translation / Meaning
when one knows that infinite joy which can be grasped by the purified intellect but lies beyond the senses, and established in which one never strays from the truth,
Verses 6.20–6.23 form one sentence describing the state of yoga.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| सुखम् sukham | joy |
| आत्यन्तिकम् ātyantikam | infinite |
| यत् yat | which |
| तत् tat | that |
| बुद्धिग्राह्यम् buddhigrāhyam | grasped by the intellect buddhi (intellect) + grāhyam (graspable) |
| अतीन्द्रियम् atīndriyam | beyond the senses |
| वेत्ति vetti | knows |
| यत्र yatra | where |
| न na | not |
| च ca | and |
| एव eva | indeed |
| अयम् ayam | this one |
| स्थितः sthitaḥ | established |
| चलति calati | moves |
| तत्त्वतः tattvataḥ | from the truth |
Word-wise Chanting
- su–kha–māt–yan–ti–kaṃ yat–tad 8 syllables su-kha-maat-yan-ti-kam yat-tad
- bud–dhig–rāh–ya–ma–tīn–dri–yam | 8 syllables bud-dhig-raah-ya-ma-teen-dri-yam
- vet–ti yat–ra na cai–vā–yaṃ 8 syllables vet-ti yat-ra na chai-vaa-yam
- sthi–taś–ca–la–ti tat–tva–taḥ || 6-21 8 syllables sthi-tash-cha-la-ti tat-tva-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 6 Verse 21
Context
The description of the state of yoga continues from 6.20.
Meaning
The joy of the Self is ātyantika, infinite and complete. It is atīndriya, beyond the reach of the senses, yet grasped by the purified buddhi, the intuitive intellect. Once established in it, the yogi does not swerve from the truth, because no other joy could pull them away.
Many think spiritual life means giving up joy. The Gita says the opposite: it leads to a joy greater than any sensory pleasure. Sense pleasures are partial and temporary; the joy of the Self is complete and unchanging.
In Practice
Recall a moment of deep peace or joy that did not depend on anything external. Reflect that it was a glimpse of the joy of the Self.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 6: Dhyana Yoga (The Yoga of Meditation). 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.