Bhagavad Gita BG 5.21
Chapter 5, Verse 21 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
बाह्यस्पर्शेष्वसक्तात्मा विन्दत्यात्मनि यत्सुखम् । स ब्रह्मयोगयुक्तात्मा सुखमक्षयमश्नुते ॥
bahya-sparshesbv asaktAtma vindaty atmani yat sukham sa brahma-yoga-yuktAtma sukham akshayam ashnute
Meaning
With the self unattached to external contacts, one finds the joy that is in the Self. With the self united in Brahman-yoga, one enjoys inexhaustible happiness.
Understanding
Bahya-sparsha (external contacts — sensory experiences) are finite and fleeting. The asaktAtma (one whose self is unattached) vindati ātmani — discovers joy IN the Self, not from outside. This is brahma-yoga-yukta — the self united to Brahman-yoga. And the result: sukham akshayam — inexhaustible happiness. Ordinary happiness depends on external conditions and is therefore exhaustible. The happiness of the Self is akshaya (inexhaustible) because it has no external condition.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| बाह्यस्पर्शेषु | bahya-sparshesbv | in external contacts/sense-experiences |
| असक्तात्मा | asaktAtma | one whose self is unattached |
| विन्दति | vindati | finds, discovers |
| अक्षयम् | akshayam | inexhaustible, undepletable, imperishable |
| अश्नुते | ashnute | enjoys, tastes, experiences |
| आत्मनि | ātmani | in the self / within oneself |
| यत् | yat | which / that (happiness) |
| सुखम् | sukham | happiness / joy (found within the self) |
| सः | saḥ | he (that yogi) |
| ब्रह्मयोगयुक्तात्मा | brahma-yoga-yuktātmā | whose self is united with Brahman through yoga |