Bhagavad Gita BG 18.36
Chapter 18, Verse 36 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
सुखं त्विदानीं त्रिविधं शृणु मे भरतर्षभ । अभ्यासाद्रमते यत्र दुःखान्तं च निगच्छति ॥
sukham tv idanim tri-vidham Shrnu me bharatarshabha abhyasad ramate yatra duhkhantam ca nigacchati
Meaning
And now hear from Me of the three kinds of happiness, O best of the Bharatas — that in which one finds delight through practice, and wherein one reaches the end of suffering.
Understanding
The introductory verse to the three-types-of-happiness teaching. Sukham tri-vidham shrnu me (hear from Me of happiness in its three forms). Abhyasad ramate yatra (that in which one comes to delight through practice — implying sattvic happiness, which is bitter at first and requires practice to appreciate). Duhkhantam ca nigacchati (and wherein one comes to the END of sorrow — the liberation-oriented happiness). This opening verse frames the entire happiness teaching around the goal: not just pleasure, but the end of duhkha. The three kinds serve very different functions.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| त्रिविधम् | tri-vidham | of three kinds, threefold |
| भरतर्षभ | bharatarshabha | O best/bull of the Bharatas (address to Arjuna) |
| अभ्यासात् | abhyasat | through practice, through repeated training |
| रमते | ramate | finds delight, rejoices, is pleased |
| दुःखान्तम् | duhkhantam | end of suffering, termination of pain |
| सुखम् | sukham tu idānim | happiness now |
| शृणु | śṛṇu | hear |
| मे | me | from Me |
| भरतर्षभ | bharata-ṛṣabha | O bull of the Bharatas |
| अभ्यासात् | abhyāsāt | by practice |
| यत्र | yatra | where |
| दुःख-अन्तम् | duḥkha-antam ca | and end of suffering |
| निगच्छति | nigacchati | one reaches |