Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6 Verse 21 (6.21)

Reflective Prompt:

Think of a time when you felt deeply peaceful: reading quietly, listening to music, sitting under the stars, praying, or finishing something difficult. How is that different from ordinary excitement?

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6 Verse 21 (6.21)

सुखमात्यन्तिकं यत्तद् बुद्धिग्राह्यमतीन्द्रियम् । वेत्ति यत्र न चैवायं स्थितश्चलति तत्त्वतः | | ६-२१ | |

sukhamātyantikaṁ yattad buddhigrāhyamatīndriyam vetti yatra na chaivāyaṁ sthitaśhchalati tattvataḥ

Word-by-word guide:

Line 1:

Sukham happiness/bliss
atyantikam supreme/infinite
yat which
tat that
buddhi grasped by pure intellect
grahyam grasped by pure intellect
atindriyam beyond the physical senses

Line 2:

vetti knows
yatra where/when
na not
cha
iv joined in chaivāyaṁ
ayam this person
sthitah established
chalati deviates/moves away
tattvatah from the truth/reality.

English: When he enjoys the Bliss which passes sense, and which only the Pure Intellect can grasp, when he comes to rest within his own highest self, never again will he stray from reality.

💡 Commentary Note

The bliss of the Self is beyond the reach of the physical senses and is realized only through a purified, sharp intellect. Once a person experiences this higher reality, they are never again deceived by fleeting worldly pleasures.

Learnings from Shloka 21:

Higher Pleasures:: Seek the deeper joy of peace and understanding, which lasts much longer than sensory thrills.
Staying Grounded:: Anchor yourself in reality so that temporary trends and distractions do not sway you.

Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz

Practice this shloka vocabulary

Match Sanskrit words from shloka 6.21 with their Hindi and English meanings.

Practice vocabulary

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