Bhagavad Gita · Verse 18.38
Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (मोक्षसंन्यासयोगः)
(The Supreme Lord said)
विषयेन्द्रियसंयोगाद्यत्तदग्रेऽमृतोपमम् । परिणामे विषमिव तत्सुखं राजसं स्मृतम् ॥३८॥
viṣayendriyasaṃyogādyattadagre'mṛtopamam | pariṇāme viṣamiva tatsukhaṃ rājasaṃ smṛtam ||38||
Complete Shloka Translation
Happiness arising from contact between senses and their objects, like nectar at first but poison in the end, is regarded as rajasic.
Word-by-Word Translation (Padartha / Anvaya)
| Sanskrit Term (पद) | IAST Roman | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| विषय | viṣaya | sense object |
| इन्द्रियाणि | indriyāṇi | senses |
| विषयेन्द्रियसंयोगाद्यत्तदग्रेऽमृतोपमम् | viṣayendriyasaṃyogādyattadagre'mṛtopamam | [term] in context of Happiness arising from contact... |
| परिणामे | pariṇāme | [term] in context of Happiness arising from contact... |
| विषमिव | viṣamiva | [term] in context of Happiness arising from contact... |
| तत्सुखं | tatsukhaṃ | [term] in context of Happiness arising from contact... |
| राजसं | rājasaṃ | [term] in context of Happiness arising from contact... |
| स्मृतम् | smṛtam | [term] in context of Happiness arising from contact... |
| ३८ | smṛtam | [term] in context of Happiness arising from contact... |
sense object
senses
[term] in context of Happiness arising from contact...
[term] in context of Happiness arising from contact...
[term] in context of Happiness arising from contact...
[term] in context of Happiness arising from contact...
[term] in context of Happiness arising from contact...
[term] in context of Happiness arising from contact...
[term] in context of Happiness arising from contact...
Detailed Commentary & Meaningful Thoughts
The verse examines pleasures whose attractive beginning conceals a troubling outcome. The contrast encourages attention to consequences.
Philosophical Reflection & Self-Inquiry
"Which immediate pleasure carries a cost you tend to overlook?"
Inquiry Question to Ponder:
Which immediate pleasure carries a cost you tend to overlook?
Modern Life Implementation (Practical Real-Life Application)
Apply this verse to achieve purposeful living: execute your daily duties with full craftsmanship and honesty, release obsessive ego over results, and ground your spirit in timeless devotion, knowing that where righteous effort joins higher wisdom, victory is assured.