Bhagavad Gita BG 18.51
Chapter 18, Verse 51 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
बुद्ध्या विशुद्धया युक्तो धृत्यात्मानं नियम्य च । शब्दादीन्विषयांस्त्यक्त्वा रागद्वेषौ व्युदस्य च ॥
buddhya vishuddhaya yukto dhrTyA 'tmanam niyamya ca shabad-adihn vishayams tyaktva raga-dveshou vyudasya ca
Meaning
Equipped with pure intellect, controlling the self with firmness, having abandoned sound and other sense-objects, casting aside attraction and aversion —
Understanding
The first set of qualities for attaining Brahman: buddhya vishuddhaya yukto (equipped with pure/purified intellect — vishuddha, completely purified). DhrTya atmanam niyamya ca (controlling the self with firmness/dhriti). Shabdadin vishayan tyaktva (having abandoned sound and other sense-objects — the five sense-objects: sound, touch, form, taste, smell). Raga-dveshau vyudasya ca (having cast aside attraction and aversion — the two fundamental reactive patterns). This is the inner preparation for Brahman: purified intellect, self-mastery, withdrawal from sense-objects, and equanimity beyond the raga-dvesha polarity.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| बुद्ध्या विशुद्धया | buddhya vishuddhaya | with purified intellect, through completely cleansed understanding |
| धृत्या | dhrTya | with firmness, through dhriti |
| नियम्य | niyamya | controlling, restraining, regulating |
| रागद्वेषौ | raga-dveshau | attraction and aversion (the fundamental reactive pair) |
| व्युदस्य | vyudasya | having cast aside, thrown away, removed |
| बुद्ध्या | buddhyā | with intelligence |
| विशुद्धया | viśuddhayā | purified |
| युक्तः | yuktaḥ | engaged |
| धृत्या | dhṛtyā | by steadiness |
| आत्मानम् | ātmānam | the self |
| नियम्य | niyamya ca | and controlling |
| शब्द-आदीन् | śabda-ādīn | sound and others |
| विषयान् | viṣayān | sense objects |
| त्यक्त्वा | tyaktvā | abandoning |
| राग-द्वेषौ | rāga-dveṣau | attachment and hatred |
| व्युदस्य | vyudasya ca | and setting aside |