Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5, Verse 17

Chapter 5 – Karma Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

तद्बुद्धयस्तदात्मानस्तन्निष्ठास्तत्परायणाः ।
गच्छन्त्यपुनरावृत्तिं ज्ञाननिर्धूतकल्मषाः ॥

Transliteration

tadbuddhayastadātmānastanniṣṭhāstatparāyaṇāḥ .
gacchantyapunarāvṛttiṃ jñānanirdhūtakalmaṣāḥ ॥

Meaning

Those whose intellect is fixed on That, whose self is That, who are devoted to That and have That as their highest goal, and whose impurities are cleansed by knowledge, go to the state from which there is no return.

Word meanings

तद्बुद्धयः – whose intellect is fixed on That
तदात्मानः – whose self is That
तन्निष्ठाः – devoted to That
तत्परायणाः – having That as their highest goal
ज्ञाननिर्धूतकल्मषाः – whose impurities are cleansed by knowledge
गच्छन्ति – attain, go to
अपुनरावृत्तिम् – the state of no return

Anvaya (word order)

तद्बुद्धयः तदात्मानः तन्निष्ठाः तत्परायणाः ज्ञाननिर्धूतकल्मषाः अपुनरावृत्तिं गच्छन्ति ।

Explanation

Four ‘tat’ words come one after another in this verse and show how the entire life of a seeker who has gained knowledge becomes concentrated in one direction. ‘Tad-buddhayah’ — their intellect is fixed in That, meaning the centre of their settled understanding is the supreme Reality. ‘Tad-atmanah’ — their sense of self is in That; they do not regard themselves apart from it. ‘Tan-nishthah’ — their steadfast devotion is in That. ‘Tat-parayanah’ — That is their highest refuge and goal.

These four states deepen in order: resolve of the intellect, identification, devotion and ultimate refuge. And ‘jnana-nirdhuta-kalmashah’ — knowledge has washed away all their faults. As cloth is cleaned with soap, the mind is made clean by knowledge.

Such seekers attain ‘apunaravrittim’ — the state from which there is no return to the cycle of birth and death. Shankara calls it liberation. For Ramanuja it is attainment of the supreme abode. Madhva links it to reaching the Lord's realm.

The verse shows that liberation is the fruit not of some outer magic but of the maturing of concentration, surrender and purity. When mind, intellect and life all turn to one truth, there is no need left to return.

Context

Verse 5.16 spoke of the light of knowledge. Verse 5.17 describes the steadfastness of seekers established in that knowledge and their destination, liberation. In 5.18 their even-mindedness will be described.

Life lesson

Align your mind, intellect and life toward one high goal. When all your powers move in one direction, practice bears fruit.

Key terms

Tat-parayana: one whose highest refuge and goal is That
Nirdhuta-kalmasha: one whose faults are washed away
Apunaravritti: liberation — the state of no return