Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 18 · Moksha Sannyasa Yoga

Bhagavad Gita 18.53 अहंकारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं परिग्रहम्

Sri Krishna Chapter 18, Verse 53 With word-by-word notes

श्लोक 18.53

अहंकारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं परिग्रहम् ।
विमुच्य निर्ममः शान्तो ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते ॥

ahaṃkāraṃ balaṃ darpaṃ kāmaṃ krodhaṃ parigraham |
vimucya nirmamaḥ śānto brahmabhūyāya kalpate ||

हिन्दी अर्थ

अहंकार, बल, घमंड, काम, क्रोध और संग्रह की वृत्ति को छोड़कर, ममता से रहित और शांत मनुष्य ब्रह्म में एक हो जाने के योग्य बन जाता है।

Meaning in English

having given up ego, force, arrogance, desire, anger and possessiveness, free from the sense of 'mine' and at peace, one becomes fit to become one with Brahman.

Bhagavad Gita 18.53 — word by word

WordTransliterationMeaning
अहंकारम्ahaṅkāramego
बलम्balamforce
दर्पम्darpamarrogance
कामम्kāmamdesire
क्रोधम्krodhamanger
परिग्रहम्parigrahampossessiveness
विमुच्यvimucyaletting go of
निर्ममःnirmamaḥfree from 'mine'
शान्तःśāntaḥpeaceful
ब्रह्मभूयायbrahma-bhūyāyafor becoming Brahman
कल्पतेkalpatebecomes fit

Explanation

Letting go of ego, force, arrogance, desire, anger and possessiveness, free of the sense of 'mine' and at peace, such a person becomes fit to be one with Brahman. This completes the description of the seeker begun in 18.51, ending with inner qualities rather than outer practices.

Shankara explains bala here not as physical strength but as the violent force joined with desire and attachment. Parigraha, possessiveness, includes holding on to people and things beyond need. For Shankara brahma-bhūya means realising identity with Brahman; for Ramanuja it means realising the self's true nature as pure consciousness, akin to Brahman, which prepares for the supreme devotion described next. Several of these qualities echo the demoniac traits of 16.18, now named to be abandoned.

भावार्थ

अहंकार, बल का घमण्ड और हठ, दर्प, काम, क्रोध और वस्तुओं के संग्रह की वृत्ति को छोड़कर, जो ममता से रहित और शान्त हो गया है, वह मनुष्य ब्रह्म के साथ एक होने के योग्य बन जाता है।

Living it today

Ask yourself honestly which of these — pride, anger, grabbing, insisting on your way — is heaviest today, and practise loosening that one.

Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 18.53?

Letting go of ego, force, arrogance, desire, anger and possessiveness, free of the sense of 'mine' and at peace, such a person becomes fit to be one with Brahman. This completes the description of the seeker begun in 18.51, ending with inner qualities rather than outer practices.

Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 18.53?

Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 18 (Moksha Sannyasa Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.

How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 18.53 in daily life?

Ask yourself honestly which of these — pride, anger, grabbing, insisting on your way — is heaviest today, and practise loosening that one.

Reflected on verse 18.53?

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