Bhagavad Gita BG 2.52
Chapter 2, Verse 52 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
यदा ते मोहकलिलं बुद्धिर्व्यतितरिष्यति । तदा गन्तासि निर्वेदं श्रोतव्यस्य श्रुतस्य च ॥ ५२ ॥
yadā te moha-kalilaṃ buddhir vyatitariṣyati tadā gantāsi nirvedaṃ śrotavyasya śrutasya ca
Meaning
When your intelligence has passed out of the dense forest of delusion, you shall become indifferent to all that has been heard and all that is to be heard.
Understanding
A verse on the stages of spiritual development. 'Moha-kalilaṃ' — the thick undergrowth (kalila = thicket, dense growth) of delusion (moha). When the intelligence ('buddhi') crosses through this forest of confusion, one reaches 'nirveda' — indifference, dispassion. 'Śrotavyasya śrutasya ca' — to what has been heard (scriptures, teachings) and what is yet to be heard. This is not ignorance but the peace of one who has found what all teachings were pointing toward.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| मोहकलिलम् | moha-kalilaṃ | the thick undergrowth / dense forest of delusion |
| बुद्धिः | buddhiḥ | intelligence / discriminating wisdom |
| व्यतितरिष्यति | vyatitariṣyati | shall cross over / shall pass through |
| निर्वेदम् | nirvedam | indifference / dispassion / going beyond |
| श्रोतव्यस्य | śrotavyasya | of what is to be heard (future teachings) |
| श्रुतस्य | śrutasya | of what has been heard (past teachings/scriptures) |
| यदा | yadā | when / at the time when |
| ते | te | your (intelligence) |
| तदा | tadā | then / at that time |
| गन्तासि | gantāsi | you will attain / you will become indifferent |
| च | ca | and (conjunction) |