Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5, Verse 24

Chapter 5 – Karma Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

योऽन्तःसुखोऽन्तरारामस्तथान्तर्ज्योतिरेव यः ।
स योगी ब्रह्मनिर्वाणं ब्रह्मभूतोऽधिगच्छति ॥

Transliteration

yo.antaḥsukho.antarārāmastathāntarjyotireva yaḥ .
sa yogī brahmanirvāṇaṃ brahmabhūto.adhigacchati ॥

Meaning

The Yogi whose happiness is within, whose delight is within, and whose light is within, becomes Brahman and attains the bliss of liberation in Brahman.

Word meanings

यः – who
अन्तःसुखः – whose happiness is within
अन्तरारामः – who delights within
तथा – and
अन्तर्ज्योतिः – whose light is within
एव – alone
सः – he
योगी – the Yogi
ब्रह्मनिर्वाणम् – liberation in Brahman
ब्रह्मभूतः – having become Brahman
अधिगच्छति – attains

Anvaya (word order)

यः अन्तःसुखः अन्तरारामः तथा अन्तर्ज्योतिः एव, सः योगी ब्रह्मभूतः (सन्) ब्रह्मनिर्वाणम् अधिगच्छति ।

Explanation

Here the Lord describes the inner condition of the perfected yogi in three tightly connected phrases. "One who is happy within, who delights within, and who is illumined within, that yogi becomes Brahman and attains the bliss of Brahman." Antah-sukhah, antar-aramah, antar-jyotih: the happiness, the rest and the light are all inside.

Each term adds something. Antah-sukhah describes a person whose happiness has its source within, not drawn from praise, possessions or events. Antar-aramah describes one who finds rest, a pleasure ground or garden, in the inner Self; where others go outward to relax, he simply returns home. Antar-jyotih describes the light of knowledge within; he sees clearly because the lamp of the Self is lit, and he is not guided by borrowed opinions alone.

The result is called "brahma-nirvana", the extinction of the fire of sorrow in Brahman. In Shankara's reading, the yogi is a sannyasin of knowledge who, having realised the Self as Brahman, becomes Brahman even while living, and attains liberation. Ramanuja takes it as the knower of the Self who delights in the Self and, through that, attains the experience of the Supreme. Madhva speaks of the devotee who finds his joy, rest and light in the Lord within the heart.

The word "brahma-bhutah", having become Brahman, should not be heard as a grand display. It means that the sense of limited individuality, with its worries, loses its hold. The person remains and acts, but the burden of "me and mine" no longer weighs on him. The waves have recognised that they are the ocean.

How does this speak to ordinary life? We all know someone whose peace does not seem to depend on conditions, and the effect of meeting such a person is striking: they are neither anxious nor in need of constant attention. Even to move slightly in this direction is a gain. Practices such as silent sitting, honest prayer, reflective reading and service done without display turn the mind inward without forcing it.

This verse prepares the ground for 5.25 and 5.26, which describe the sages who attain this liberation, and is echoed by 2.55 on the one satisfied in the Self by the Self, 6.27 on supreme joy, and 18.54 on the one who is Brahman-become and serene.

Context

Verse 5.23 described the yogi who bears the surge of desire and anger. Verse 5.24 tells his inner state and its fruit, Brahma-nirvana. In 5.25 the attainment of the same nirvana by sages will be told.

Life lesson

Spend some time each day travelling inward: in silence, meditation or self-reflection. One who finds joy, delight and light within is not disturbed by any lack in the world.

Key terms

Antah-sukha: happy from within
Antar-jyoti: self-luminous inner light
Brahma-nirvana: liberation by merging in Brahman