Desire

Chapter 05, Verse 26

श्रीभगवानुवाच:

कामक्रोधवियुक्तानां यतीनां यतचेतसाम्।

अभितो ब्रह्मनिर्वाणं वर्तते विदितात्मनाम्॥5.26॥

sri-bhagavan uvaca:

kama-krodha-viyuktanam yatinam yata-cetasam।

abhito brahma-nirvanam vartate viditatmanam॥5.26॥

Word-by-Word Analysis

Word Meaning
श्रीभगवानुवाच: (sri-bhagavan uvaca)
The Supreme Lord said: This marks Krishna’s first direct speech in the Bhagavad Gita, where he begins guiding Arjuna.
काम (kama)
Desire
क्रोध (krodha)
Anger
वियुक्तानाम् (viyuktanam)
Of those who are free from
यतीनां (yatinam)
Of the self-controlled (ascetics, disciplined ones)
यत-चेतसाम् (yata -cetasam)
Of those with controlled minds
अभितः (abhitah)
All around, on all sides
ब्रह्म-निर्वाणम् (brahma – nirvanam)
Liberation in Brahman; union with the Absolute
वर्तते (vartate)
Exists, takes place
विदित-आत्मनाम् (vidita-atmanam)
Of those who have realized the Self

Translation

            “The bliss of Brahman is all around to those sages who are desireless, anger less, mortify their bodies, control themselves, who have no longing and who have found the Self.”

Context of the Verse:

            This verse is from the last section of Chapter 5: Karma Sannyasa Yoga renunciation through knowledge and action.

            Here Krishna has been describing that the renunciation is not to abandon the action, but to abandon the sense of mine and I.

            There Krishna describes the character of liberated seers – the inner state required for the apprehension of Brahman, the Absolute.

Key Teachings in This Verse:

  • Freedom from Desire and Anger: The first condition for inner peace is to get rid of Kama (desire) and Krodha (anger) because both of these two make us slaves.
  • Modesty: Freedom is only for the self-restrained and the controlled of the mind.
  • Usage of the Self: The gain of this practice is BrahmaNirvana,-a state of happy unification in the Absolute, being undifferentiated.
  • Liberation Is At Hand: To those who are wise and disciplined, ‘bliss-of-Brahman‘ is already here and not a remote future reward.

Relevance to Arjuna:

  • Arjuna is confused and overwhelmed – guided into battle he is gripped by fear, doubt, sorrow and strife.
  • Krishna explains that the real freedom (for which Arjuna desires not to fight the war) is from within, from spiritual enlightenment.
  • This verse is instructing Arjuna to take the cool-headed temperament, which is necessary even during action (like fighting in the war).

Explanation:

            One must be without propensities for anger and desires.

            So, it is confirmed that God is not a respecter of persons. We are totally responsible for our spiritual progress. What you have as happiness and material grief you have rooted in this life. People in that illusion that if I work hard, I’ll become happier. That is not possible.

            As we behave in this life, the response for future life is determined. So, when it comes to our actions of previous life, as soon as we take birth here. Custom is the setter of our happiness and misery. So, there’s why material happiness distress is fixed. So, I will by now work for my spiritual happiness and anyhow I don´t get pleasure by material happiness. It’s another face of anguish. So here itis being mentioned. One must themselves be free from anger and desires. Again, Krishna repeats become free. So that there is no such thing as destiny in spiritual life. The more we apply diligence to controlling our anger in restraining our worldly desires, the more we progress.

            We are self-realized. That self-discipline, great discipline as it is necessary in spiritual life also. So that is why scriptures tell you have to complete surrender to your guru, that is like you have to complete surrender your coach if you go for winning a medal in Olympics. How much greater is the immortality (and so forth, and so on) to surrender to a guru who will get us to the platform of liberation.

            So here Krishna has added self-disciplined which is very, very important. The spiritual life must be a military discipline. For if he does, an experienced spiritual master is necessary. You have someone who’s just always working, always striving for perfection. “Whereas they try to commit to perfect, there will be hiccups, it’s a struggle, but they should just try hard all the time.

            When someone is performing such an activity he is guaranteed of a freedom soon. Hence the standing of emancipated person has been described by Krishna in the supreme. Now he will explain Astang Yoga; the method for reaching this position. Krishna gives a brief introduction. He will speak more of this process in the chapter after next.

Knowledge

Chapter 05, Verse 27-28

स्पर्शान्कृत्वा बहिर्बाह्यांश्चक्षुश्चैवान्तरे भ्रुवोः।

प्राणापानौ समौ कृत्वा नासाभ्यन्तरचारिणौ॥5.27॥

यतेन्द्रियमनोबुद्धिर्मुनिर्मोक्षपरायणः।

विगतेच्छाभयक्रोधो यः सदा मुक्त एव सः॥5.28॥

sparsan krtva bahir bahyams caksus caivantare bhruvoh।

pranapanau samau krtva nasabhyantara-carinau॥5.27॥

yatendriya-manobuddhir muni moksa-parayanah।

vigita-iccha-bhaya-krodho yah sada mukta eva sah॥5.28॥

Word-by-Word Analysis

Word Meaning
स्पर्शान् (sparsan)
Sense objects (touch, perceptions)
कृत्वा (krtva)
Having withdrawn
बहिः (bahih)
Outside
बाह्यान् (bahyan)
External (objects)
चक्षुः (caksuh)
Eyes
च (ca)
And
एव (eva)
Indeed
अन्तरे (antare)
Inward
भ्रुवोः (bhruvoh)
Of the eyebrows
प्राण-अपानौ (prana-apanau)
Inhalation and exhalation (life breaths)
समौ (samau)
Equalized, balanced
कृत्वा (krtva)
Having made
नासा-अभ्यन्तर-चारिणौ (nasabhyantara-carinau)
Moving inside the nostrils (i.e., breath control)
यत-इन्द्रिय-मनो-बुद्धिः (yat-indriya-mano-buddhih)
One who has controlled the senses, mind, and intellect
मुनिः (munih)
The sage (silent contemplative one)
मोक्ष-परायणः (moksa-parayanah)
Devoted to liberation (with moksha as the supreme goal)
विगत-इच्छा-भय-क्रोधः (vigata-iccha-bhaya-krodhah)
Free from desire, fear, and anger
यः (yah)
Who
सदा (sada)
Always
मुक्तः (muktah)
Liberated
एव (eva)
Indeed
सः (sah)
He

Translation

            “Closing all the doors of the senses and fixing the mind at the point between the eyebrows; making the inward and outward breaths equal in the nostrils. Equalising the duration of the incoming and the outgoing breaths. Thus, realising the wisdom of oneness, releasing from desire, fear and anger. The man of meditation becomes free from bondage. One who is constantly in this state is undoubtedly free.”

Context of Verses:

            The verses below are the concluding verses of Chapter 5: Karma-Sannyasa Yoga (Yoga through Renunciation of Action). The Master here shifts from speaking of sense-renunciation by knowledge and acts to the Sankhya form as criteria of the internal state of a Yoga in liberate – one who has found peace by meditative discipline and inner detachment.

Verse 27 details meditative practices:

  • Sense withdrawal
  • Gaze fixed at point (between eyebrows)
  • Breath regulation (Pranayama)

An excerpt from verse 28 on the mental/emotional purification of enlightenment:

  • Control over mind, senses, intellect
  • Devotion to Moksa (liberation)
  • Are free from desires, fear and anger
  • Collectively, they are about the path of the meditator (Muni) who through non-doing becomes established in inner freedom.

Key Teachings of Verses:

  • Content and Breath Control: True spiritual progress begins with the control of the body and breath – basic Yogic
  • Single-Pointed Focus: The Yogi draws the gaze inward, not just physically but metaphorically – into the self.
  • Freedom from Feelings: Cravings, aversions and anger are considered as major impediments of freedom.
  • Liberation (in this life): The one who possesses these qualities is already liberated – not postmortem, but here and now (Jivanmukta).
  • Mind Intellect Mastery: Freedom comes from mastering the inner instruments (sent, mind, intellect).

Relevance to Arjuna:

  • Arjuna is overwhelmed with emotion, attachment and confusion.
  • Krishna presents to him a prototype of the perfect Yogi – someone Arjuna can try to emulate.
  • Arjuna is told to fight not like a soldier but as a warrior by giving up rage, trivial aspirations and personal absolution.
  • These verses illustrate that inner renunciation, rather than renouncing duties by fleeing from them, leads to peace.

Explanation:

            So, controlling the senses by controlling your breath. This is a process of Pranayam, which is a part of Astang Yoga. So, there are different ways of controlling anger and desires. So, as we understood that desires are because of this body, the pig has certain desire, crow has certain desire, we have different desires, we are influenced by the body.

            This body, a certain mechanism. When we are sleeping, we will not have desires of the senses. Even though the body’s paining, we will not feel the pain because there is some connection which has been cut. The pain is not reaching us. In a similar fashion, there is a way by which we can control mechanically understanding the design of this Yantra.

            We can act in certain way by which anger, desires and fear can be kept away. And that happens by Astang Yoga. Sitting in one place, firm place, going to jungle. Not closing the eyes completely. That will make a person fall asleep. That is why today the people who meditate with closed eyes, they sleep. That is not recommended by Krishna. Half closed, fully if he opens, then sense objects may distract. So, keep it half closed. Focus on the tip of the nose. Control the breath, suspend the net breath in the nostril. And in this way, we will be free from fear, anger and desires. This is very scientific way and then you can attain the supreme. But this process is very difficult and not possible for all.

            Krishna is recommending to Arjuna so that Arjuna can reject it. It is an instruction to all of us, when 5,000 years ago Arjuna could not follow. What is a possible for weak entities like us in Kali Yoga who are not trained in strict Brahmacharya?

brahman

Chapter 05, Verse 29

भोक्तारं यज्ञतपसां सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम् ।

सुहृदं सर्वभूतानां ज्ञात्वा मां शान्तिमृच्छति॥5.29॥

bhoktaram yagya-tapasam sarva-loka-mahesvaram।

suhrdam sarva-bhutanam gyatva mam santim rcchati॥5.29॥

Word-by-Word Analysis

Word Meaning
भोक्तारम् (bhoktaram)
The enjoyer / recipient
यज्ञतपसाम् (yagya-tapasam)
Of sacrifices and austerities
सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम् (sarva-loka-mahesvaram)
The Supreme Lord of all the worlds
सुहृदम् (suhrdam)
The well-wisher / friend
सर्वभूतानाम् (sarva-bhutanam)
Of all living entities / beings
ज्ञात्वा (gyatva)
Knowing / having understood
माम् (mam)
Me (Krishna)
शान्तिम् (santim)
Peace
ऋच्छति (rcchati)
Attains / reaches

Translation

            “After attaining Me, the great sages who know Meas the ultimate goal of sacrifice and austerities, the Supreme lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, become free from all material miseries.”

Context of the Verse:

            This is the final verse of the 5th chapter named Karma Sannyasa Yoga – the Yoga of Renunciation of Action. Summary In this chapter, the necessity of elaborating on the processes of Renunciation and Action is explained as Arjuna is confused about which one is superior. Krishna further teaches, however, that both renunciation and self-less action can be routes to liberation, but that Karma Yoga (self-less action) is the superior path for most aspirants.

            This verse represents the concluding forceful statement of the chapter, and it uncovers the key to peace: knowing the divine nature of Krishna and surrendering to Him in knowledge and devotion.

Key Teachings in This Verse:

  • Krishna is the Supreme Enjoyer: All kinds of austerities and sacrifices are performed with the purpose of pleasing God.
  • Supreme Controller: He is the Lord of all the worlds and the creatures belonging to them, material and divine.
  • All-forbearing Friend: God is not partial; He is a genuine friend of all creatures.
  • Path to Peace: True peace (Santi) is not derived from mere material detachment, but from an enlightened understanding of God’s nature and relationship.

Relevance to Arjuna:

            Arjuna is horrified by the idea of killing his relations and teachers, and cut off from attachment to violence. This verse tells him that the most real peace and virtue does not come through sentimentality or forsaking of the world, but through the recognition of Krishna’s divine order. Since Krishna is the supreme enjoyer and the supreme well-wisher, to act in accordance with His will (i.e fighting as duty) is the way to peace and liberation.

Explanation:

            So when the anger is gone, fear gone from the body and materials desires also gone from the body. Then one can realize the supreme Lord.

            And what is that understanding?

            To date, Krish has said, give up your work product. Then is he, in the at the time here and yet to come, revealing if your senses were being put to work in offering me my service. So now, of course Krishna is saying know that I am the enjoyer of all sacrifices. Given by the Devatas or given to me directly in knowledge, but I am benefiting.

            I’m the creator of whole planet, world and totality so I’m well-wisher of everyone. When we are free from all these urges anger, fear and desires’ only then we can understand it. Unless, on the other hand, we are dominated by material desire and attachment, we cannot know anything about God.

            When a man gets this knowledge then he attains to Shanti. This is peace formula. So, we should know that Krishna is the supreme enjoyer. We should labour for his pleasure. What if he Were to labour for pleasure? He is a Knower of the Feast; there isn’t a Community without His present. He is controller of the entire cosmos, there isn’t a blade of grass moves without Himself.

            So, if I’ve made the owner of the universe happy with my service. Everything is under his control. Why anything in my life could ever be a “distraction.” But that is autocratic. He (Krishna) wants me to enforce So, Krishna says no. He’s our eternal well-wisher are parent or brothers are telling are our parents are telling child I’m telling in the similar fashion; Krishna is telling I’m not autocratic ruler. Parents are not autocratic. They’re best wishes of children. Similarly, Krishna is saying, I’m your best-well-wisher. Even wise men are bewildered by constantly acting according to the law of karma.”) Therefore, when a man knows that to be so – when he perceives the nature of the karma, so it is that even standing for a good of the Karma Yagya. And acting that man remains content with the loving-kindness of Krishna, for then his work comes to full fruition.

            So, how anyone  can achieve this by Sankhya?

            Attainable by means of Astang Yoga. Of course, one who thinks of Krishna at anywhere, when he thinks like that, when a Yogi comes, actually he doesn’t undergo these strain or Hatha-Yogic principles, but directly sitting in the Himalayan jungle and meditating on the heart, within the heart, not on the heart, common heart but your heart and realizing Krishna, but that can be very easily understood by direct Karma Yoga or Buddhi-Yoga by serving Krishna. Very nicely, That Krishna will describe in the next chapter.

            So, in this chapter we have seen perspicuously, Krishna has made it clear, knowledge is important and one’s acting in devotional service is also important. And if they’re one way only, in our Maya we think they are different. Yet the path of Karma Yoga is superior Attend it will not be long, not many birth away. If one has sincerity and one is born, one can get to God and this path is full as bliss, one is full of pleasure, controlling the senses can be very hard. How to control anger one may inquire how do you control something. For a Karma Yogi it is very simple because he is constantly finding pleasure in thinking of Krishna.

            He doesn’t have time to worry about anything else. They have given me praise, they have given me honour, they have given me scorn, they have given me dishonour. My feelings are hanging around, they are troubled. He is not at all disturbed; because he is completely busy, always constantly thinking of the lotus feet of Krishna, the holy name of Krishna. So, when one engages in service, then there is pleasure in the life.

            Now is not the time to get angry. Nobody can disturb him. He has no other desire as he is content through his service. A loving service to Krishna. So, this is simple and it is doable too. But when we are about to serve Krishna seeing will be automatically, gradually the senses will become silent.

            The self-control is easy. So, Krishna says this is more important. Then he describes the case of Yogi. Yogi is ever a balance of mind, until and unless there is a balance it is impossible to realize God. That is, one should work for the benefit of other living entities. The real benefit is how to raise them to the platform of spiritual platform immortality so that they haven’t got to come down again to this temporary dress, and to attain that supreme platform.

            This way of Astang Yoga Krishna has termed- brief been mentioned, of that whether or not it is to be practiced will be stated in the next chapter.

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