Chapter 18 · Moksha Sannyasa Yoga - The Yoga of Liberation through RenunciationKrishna
Verse 38
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 18, श्लोक 38
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
विषयेन्द्रियसंयोगाद्यत्तदग्रेऽमृतोपमम्।
परिणामे विषमिव तत्सुखं राजसं स्मृतम्॥
Transliteration
Vishaya-indriya-samyogad-yat-tad-agre'mrita-upamam
Pariname visham-iva tat-sukham rajasam smritam
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
विषयेन्द्रियसंयोगात्vishaya-indriya-samyogatfrom contact of senses with objects
यत्yatwhich
अग्रेagrein the beginning
अमृतोपमम्amrita-upamamlike nectar
परिणामेparinamein the end
विषम् इवvisham ivalike poison
तत् सुखम्tat sukhamthat happiness
राजसम्rajasamrajasic
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
जो सुख इन्द्रिय और विषय के संयोग से उत्पन्न होता है — आरम्भ में अमृत के समान, किन्तु परिणाम में विष के समान — वह राजसिक सुख है।
English Translation
That happiness which arises from the contact of the senses with their objects, which is like nectar in the beginning but like poison in the end — that is considered rajasic.
Commentary (टीका)
Rajasic happiness is the exact opposite of sattvic — immediately pleasurable but ultimately painful. Sensory pleasures feel wonderful initially but lead to addiction, dissatisfaction, and suffering. This verse captures the deceptive nature of worldly pleasures that trap people in endless cycles of craving.