Synonyms
kārpaṇya — of miserliness; doṣa — by the weakness; upahata — being afflicted; svabhāvaḥ — characteristics; pṛcchāmi — I am asking; tvām — unto You; dharma — religion; sammūḍha — bewildered; cetāḥ — in heart; yat — what; śreyaḥ — all-good; syāt — may be; niścitam — confidently; brūhi — tell; tat — that; me — unto me; śiṣyaḥ — disciple; te — Your; aham — I am; śādhi — just instruct; mām — me; tvām — unto You; prapannam — surrendered.

Translation
Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of miserly weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me for certain what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.

Synonyms
na—never; enam—unto this soul; chindanti—can cut into pieces; śastrāṇi —all weapons; na—never; enam—unto this soul; dahati—burns; pāvakaḥ—fire; na—never; ca—also; enam—unto this soul; kledayanti—moistens; āpaḥ —water; na—never; śoṣayati—dries; mārutaḥ—wind.

Translation
The soul can never be cut into pieces by any weapon, nor can he be burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind.

Synonyms
acchedyaḥ—unbreakable; ayam—this soul; adāhyaḥ—cannot be burned; ayam—this soul; akledyaḥ—insoluble; aśoṣyaḥ—cannot be dried; eva—certainly; ca—and; nityaḥ—everlasting; sarva-gataḥ—all-pervading; sthāṇuḥ—unchangeable; acalaḥ—immovable; ayam—this soul; sanātanaḥ—eternally the same.

Translation
This individual soul is unbreakable and insoluble, and can be neither burned nor dried. He is everlasting, all-pervading, unchangeable, immovable and eternally the same.

Synonyms
avyaktaḥ—invisible; ayam—this soul; acintyaḥ—inconceivable; ayam—this soul; avikāryaḥ—unchangeable; ayam—this soul; ucyate—is said; tasmāt—therefore; evam—like this; viditvā—knowing it well; enam—this soul; na—do not; anuśocitum—may lament over; arhasi—you deserve.

Translation
It is said that the soul is invisible, inconceivable, immutable, and unchangeable. Knowing this, you should not grieve for the body.

Synonyms
jātasya—one who has taken his birth; hi—certainly; dhruvaḥ—a fact; mṛtyuḥ—death; dhruvam—it is also a fact; janma—birth; mṛtasya—of the dead; ca—also; tasmāt—therefore; aparihārye—for that which is unavoidable; arthe—in the matter of; na—do not; tvam—you; śocitum—to lament; arhasi—deserve.

Translation
For one who has taken his birth, death is certain; and for one who is dead, birth is certain. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament.

Synonyms

avyaktaḥ—invisible; ayam—this soul; acintyaḥ—inconceivable; ayam—this soul; avikāryaḥ—unchangeable; ayam—this soul; ucyate—is said; tasmāt—therefore; evam—like this; viditvā—knowing it well; enam—this soul; na—do not; anuśocitum—may lament over; arhasi—you deserve. Translation

Some look on the soul as amazing, some describe him as amazing, and some hear of him as amazing, while others, even after hearing about him, cannot understand him at all.

Synonyms vyavasāya-ātmikā — resolute in Kṛṣṇa consciousness; buddhiḥ — intelligence; ekā — only one; iha — in this world; kuru-nandana — O beloved child of the Kurus; bahu-śhākhāḥ — having various branches; hi — indeed; anantāḥ — unlimited; ca — also; buddhayaḥ — intelligence; avyavasāyinām — of those who are not in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Translation Those who are on this path are resolute in purpose, and their aim is one. O beloved child of the Kurus, the intelligence of those who are irresolute is many-branched.

Synonyms kutastvā—wherefrom; tvā—unto you; kaśmalam—dirtiness; idam—this; viṣame—in this hour of crisis; samupasthitam—arrived; anārya—not of the Aryans; juṣṭam—practiced by; asvargyam—which does not lead to higher planets; akīrti—infamy; karam—the cause of; arjuna—O Arjuna.

Translation My dear Arjuna, how have these impurities come upon you? They are not at all befitting a man who knows the progressive values of life. They do not lead to higher planets, but to infamy.

Synonyms klaibyam—impotence; mā sma—do not; gamaḥ—take to; pārtha—O son of Pṛthā; na—never; etat—this; tvayi—unto you; upapadyate—is befitting; kṣudram—petty; hṛdaya—of the heart; daurbalyam—weakness; tyaktvā—giving up; uttiṣṭha—get up; param-tapa—O chastiser of the enemy.

Translation O son of Pṛthā, do not yield to this degrading impotence. It does not become you. Give up such petty weakness of heart and arise, O chastiser of the enemy.

Synonyms kārpaṇya—of miserliness; doṣa—by the weakness; upahata—struck; sva-bhāvaḥ—my nature; pṛcchāmi—I am asking; tvām—unto You; dharma—religion; saṁmūḍha—bewildered; cetāḥ—in heart; yat—what; śreyaḥ—all-good; syāt—may be; niścitam—definitely; brūhi—just tell; tat—that; me—unto me; śiṣyaḥ—disciple; te—Your; aham—I am; śādhi—just instruct; mām—me; tvām—unto You; prapannam—surrendered.

Translation Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of miserly weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me for certain what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.

Synonyms śrī-bhagavān uvāca—the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; aśocyān—things worthy of lamentation; anvaśocaḥ—you are lamenting; tvam—you; prajñā-vādān—learned talks; ca—also; bhāṣase—speaking; gata—the gone; asūn—life; agata—the not gone; asūn—life; ca—also; na—never; anuśocanti—lament; paṇḍitāḥ—the learned.

Translation The Blessed Lord said: While speaking learned words, you are mourning for what is not worthy of grief. Those who are wise lament neither for the living nor for the dead.

Synonyms na—never; tu—but; eva—certainly; aham—I; jātu—at any time; na—did not; āsam—exist; na—nor; tvam—you; na—not; ime—all these; janādhipāḥ—kings; na—never; ca—also; eva—certainly; na—not; bhaviṣyāmaḥ—shall exist; sarve—all of us; vayam—we; ataḥ param—thereafter.

Translation Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be.

Synonyms dehinaḥ—of the embodied; asmin—in this; yathā—as; dehe—in the body; kaumāram—childhood; yauvanam—youth; jarā—old age; tathā—similarly; deha-antara—of transference of the body; prāptiḥ—achievement; dhīraḥ—the sober; tatra—thereupon; na—never; muhyati—is bewildered.

Translation As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. The sober person is not bewildered by such a change.

Synonyms mātrā—sensory; sparśāḥ—perception; tu—only; kaunteya—O son of Kuntī; śīta—winter; uṣṇa—summer; sukha—happiness; duḥkha—distress; dāḥ—giving; āgama—appearing; apāyinaḥ—disappearing; anityāḥ—temporary; tān—all of them; titikṣasva—just try to tolerate; bhārata—O descendant of the Bharata dynasty.

Translation O son of Kuntī, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.

Synonyms yam—unto whom; hi—certainly; na—never; vyathayanti—are disturbed; ete—all these; puruṣam—person; puruṣa-ṛṣabha—O best among men; sama—equal; duḥkha—distress; sukham—happiness; dhīram—steady; saḥ—he; amṛtatvāya—for liberation; kalpate—becomes eligible.

Translation O best of men [Arjuna], the person who is not disturbed by happiness and distress and is steady in both is certainly eligible for liberation.

Synonyms na—never; asataḥ—of the nonexistent; vidyate—there is; bhāvaḥ—endurance; na—never; abhāvaḥ—changing quality; vidyate—there is; sataḥ—of the eternal; ubhayoḥ—of the two; api—also; dṛṣṭaḥ—observed; antaḥ—conclusion; tu—certainly; anayoḥ—of these; tattva-darśibhiḥ—by the seers of the Absolute Truth.

Translation Those who are seers of the truth have concluded that of the nonexistent [the material body] there is no endurance, and of the eternal [the soul] there is no change. This conclusion is per their vision.

Synonyms avināśi—imperishable; tu—but; tat—that; viddhi—know it; yena—by whom; sarvam—all; idam—this; tatam—pervaded; vināśam—destruction; avyayasya—of the imperishable; asya—of it; na kaścit—no one; kartum—to do; arhati—is able.

Translation Know that which pervades the entire body is indestructible. No one is able to destroy the imperishable soul.

Synonyms antavantaḥ—perishable; ime—all these; dehāḥ—bodies; nityasya—eternal in existence; uktāḥ—are said; śarīriṇaḥ—of the embodied soul; anāśinaḥ—for the soul; aprameyasya—who is immeasurable; tasmāt—therefore; yudhyasva—fight; bhārata—O descendant of Bharata.

Translation All these bodies are perishable; but the soul within is indestructible and immeasurable. Therefore, fight, O descendant of Bharata.

Synonyms na—never; jāyate—takes birth; mriyate—dies; vā—either; kadācit—at any time; na—never; ayam—this; bhūtvā—having come into being; bhavitā—will come to be; vā—or; na—not; bhūyaḥ—or again; ajaḥ—unborn; nityaḥ—eternal; śāśvataḥ—permanent; ayam—this; purāṇaḥ—the oldest; na—never; hanyate—is killed; hanyamāne—when the body is being killed; śarīre—in the body.

Translation For the soul there is never birth nor death. Nor, having once been, does he ever cease to be. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, undying and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.

Synonyms na—never; enam—this soul; chindanti—can cut to pieces; śastrāṇi—any weapon; na—nor; enam—this soul; dahati—can burn; pāvakaḥ—fire; na—nor; ca—also; enam—this soul; kledayanti—moisten; āpaḥ—water; na—nor; śoṣayati—dries; mārutaḥ—wind.

Translation Weapons cannot shred the soul, nor can fire burn it. Water cannot wet it, nor can the wind dry it.

Synonyms acchedyaḥ—unbreakable; ayam—this soul; adāhyaḥ—cannot be burned; ayam—this soul; akledyaḥ—cannot be moistened; aśoṣyaḥ—cannot be dried; eva—certainly; ca—also; nityaḥ—eternal; sarva-gataḥ—all-pervading; sthāṇuḥ—unchangeable; acalaḥ—immovable; ayam—this soul; sanātanaḥ—eternally the same.

Translation This individual soul is unbreakable and insoluble, and can be neither burned nor dried. He is everlasting, present everywhere, unchangeable, immovable and eternally the same.

Synonyms avyaktaḥ—invisible; ayam—this soul; acintyaḥ—inconceivable; ayam—this soul; avikāryaḥ—unchangeable; ayam—this soul; ucyate—is said; tasmāt—therefore; evam—like this; viditvā—knowing it well; enam—this soul; na—do not; anuśocitum—to lament; arhasi—you deserve.

Translation It is said that the soul is invisible, inconceivable, immutable and unchangeable. Knowing this, you should not grieve for the body.

Synonyms atha—if, however; ca—also; enam—this soul; nitya-jātam—always born; nityam—forever; vā—either; manyase—you think; mṛtam—dead; tathāpi—still; tvam—you; mahā-bāho—O mighty-armed one; na—never; evam—like this; śocitum—to lament; arhasi—you deserve.

Translation If, however, you think that the soul is perpetually born and always dies, still you have no reason to lament, O mighty-armed.

Synonyms jātasya—for one who has taken his birth; hi—certainly; dhruvaḥ—a fact; mṛtyuḥ—death; dhruvam—factually; janma—birth; mṛtasya—of the dead; ca—also; tasmāt—therefore; aparihārye—for the unavoidable; arthe—in the matter of; na—do not; tvam—you; śocitum—to lament; arhasi—you deserve.

Translation For one who has taken his birth, death is certain; and for one who has died, birth is certain. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament.

Synonyms avyakta-ādīni—in the beginning unmanifested; bhūtāni—all that are created; vyakta-madhyāni—in the interim as the manifested; bhārata—O descendant of Bharata; avyakta-nidhanāni—in the end unmanifested; eva—all of them; tatra—therefore; kā—what; paridevanā—lamentation.

Translation All created beings are unmanifest in their beginning, manifest in their interim state, and unmanifest again when they are annihilated. So what need is there for lamentation?

Synonyms āścarya-vat—as amazing; paśyati—sees; kaścit—someone; enam—this soul; āścarya-vat—as amazing; vadati—speaks of; tathā—thus; eva—certainly; ca—also; anyaḥ—another; āścarya-vat—as amazing; ca—also; enam—this soul; anyaḥ—another; śṛṇoti—hears of; śrutvā—having heard; api—even; enam—this soul; veda—knows; na—never; ca—also; eva—certainly; kaścit—someone.

Translation Some look on the soul as amazing, some describe him as amazing, and some hear of him as amazing, while others, even after hearing about him, cannot understand him at all.

Synonyms sukha—happiness; duḥkhe—in distress; same—in equanimity; kṛtvā—doing so; lābha—profit; alābhau—and loss; jaya—victory; ajayau—defeat; tataḥ—thereafter; yuddhāya—for the sake of fighting; yujyasva—engage yourself; na—never; evam—thus; pāpam—sin; avāpsyasi—you will incur.

Translation Fight for the sake of fighting, treating alike happiness and distress, loss and gain, victory and defeat. Fulfilling your responsibility in this way, you will never incur sin.

Synonyms na—there is not; iha—in this; abhikrama—endeavor; nāśaḥ—loss; asti—there is; pratyavāyaḥ—diminution; na—never; vidyate—there is; sv-alpam—a little; api—even; asya—of this; dharmasya—occupation; trāyate—releases; mahataḥ—from very great; bhayāt—danger.

Translation In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.

Synonyms vyavasāya-ātmikā—resolute in the performance of duty; buddhiḥ—intelligence; samādheṣu—into samādhi; kuru-nandana—O beloved child of the Kurus; bahu-śākhāḥ—having various branches; hi—indeed; anantāḥ—unlimited; ca—also; buddhiḥ—intelligence; avyavasāyinām—of those who are irresolute.

Translation Those who are on this path are resolute in purpose, and their aim is one. O beloved child of the Kurus, the intelligence of those who are irresolute is many-branched.

Synonyms bhoga—material enjoyment; aiśvarya—opulence; prasaktānām—for those who are attached; tayā—by them; apahata—bewildered; cetasām—consciousness; vyavasāya-ātmikā—resolute determination; buddhiḥ—intelligence; samādheṣu—in the controlled mind; na—never; vidhīyate—does take place.

Translation In the minds of those who are too attached to sense enjoyment and material opulence, and who are bewildered by such things, the resolute determination for devotional service to the Supreme Lord does not take place.

Synonyms trai-guṇya—the three modes of material nature; viṣayāḥ—subject matter; vedāḥ—Vedic literatures; nistrai-guṇyaḥ—transcendental to the three modes of material nature; bhava—be; arjuna—O Arjuna; nirdvandvaḥ—without duality; nitya-sattva-sthaḥ—in a pure state of spiritual existence; niryoga-kṣemaḥ—free from ideas of gain and protection; ātma-vān—established in the self.

Translation The Vedas mainly deal with the subject of the three modes of material nature. Rise above these modes, O Arjuna. Be transcendental to all of them. Be free from all dualities and from all anxieties for gain and safety, and be established in the self.

Synonyms yāvān—all that; arthaḥ—is meant; udapāne—in a well of water; sarvataḥ—in all directions; sampluta-udake—in a great reservoir of water; tāvān—similarly; sarveṣu—in all; vedeṣu—Vedic literatures; brāhmaṇasya—of the man who knows the Supreme Brahman; vijānataḥ—who is in complete knowledge.

Translation All purposes that are served by the small pond can easily be served by a great reservoir of water. Similarly, all the purposes of the Vedas can be served to one who knows the purpose behind them.

Synonyms karmaṇi—prescribed duties; eva—certainly; adhikāraḥ—right; te—your; mā—never; phaleṣu—in the fruits; kadācana—at any time; mā—never; karma-phala—of the result of the work; hetuḥ—cause; bhūḥ—become; mā—never; te—of you; saṅgaḥ—attachment; astu—there should be; akarmaṇi—in not discharging the prescribed duties.

Translation You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.

Synonyms yoga-sthaḥ—equipoised; kuru—perform; karmāṇi—your duties; saṅgam—attachment; tyaktvā—giving up; dhanañjaya—O Arjuna; siddhi—asiddhyoḥ—in success and failure; samaḥ—equipoised; bhūtvā—becoming; samatvam—equanimity; yogaḥ—yoga; ucyate—is called.

Translation Perform your duty equipoised, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga.

Synonyms buddhi-yuktaḥ—one who is engaged in devotional service; jahāti—can get rid of; iha—in this life; ubhe—both; sukṛta-duṣkṛte—good and bad results; tasmāt—therefore; yogāya—for the sake of devotional service; yujyasva—be so engaged; yogaḥ—Kṛṣṇa consciousness; karmasu—in all activities; kauśalam—art.

Translation A person engaged in devotional service rids himself of both good and bad reactions even in this life. Therefore strive for yoga, O Arjuna, which is the art of all work.

Synonyms yadā—when; te—your; moha—of illusion; kalilam—the dense forest; buddhiḥ—transcendental service; vyatitariṣyati—surpasses; tadā—at that time; gantā asi—you shall go; nirvedam—callousness; śrotavyasya—toward all that is to be heard; śrutasya—all that is already heard; ca—also.

Translation When your intelligence has passed out of the dense forest of delusion, you shall become indifferent to all that has been heard and all that is to be heard.

Synonyms arjunaḥ uvāca—Arjuna said; sthita-prajñasya—of one who is situated in fixed Kṛṣṇa consciousness; kā—what; bhāṣā—language; samādhe—in the completely fixed; sthita—situated; cetasaḥ—of consciousness; katham—how; āsīta—does remain; medhāvī—intelligent; kim—what; brūyeta—speaks; kim—how; āsita—sits; kim—what.

Translation Arjuna said: What are the symptoms of one whose consciousness is thus merged in transcendence? How does he speak, and what is his language? How does he sit, and how does he walk?

Synonyms śrī-bhagavān uvāca—the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; prajahāti—gives up; yadā—when; kāmān—material sense gratification; sarvān—of all varieties; pārtha—O son of Pṛthā; manaḥ-gatān—of the mind; ātmani—in the pure self; eva—certainly; ātmanā—by the purified mind; tuṣṭaḥ—satisfied; sthita-prajñaḥ—transcendentally situated; tadā—at that time; ucyate—is said.

Translation The Blessed Lord said: O Pārtha, when a man gives up all varieties of sense desire which arise from mental concoction, and when his mind finds satisfaction in the self alone, then he is said to be in pure transcendental consciousness.

Synonyms duḥkheṣu—in the threefold miseries; anudvigna-manāḥ—without being agitated in mind; sukheṣu—in happiness; vigata-spṛhaḥ—without being interested; vīta—freed from; rāga—attachment; bhaya—fear; krodhaḥ—and anger; sthita-dhīḥ—whose mind is steady; muniḥ—the sage; ucyate—is called.

Translation One who is not disturbed in spite of the threefold miseries, who is not elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind.

Synonyms yaḥ—one who; sarvatra—in all circumstances; anabhisnehaḥ—without affection; tat tat—those things; prāpya—achieving; śubha—good; aśubham—evil; na—never; abhinandati—praises; na—nor; dveṣṭi—envies; tasya—his; prajñā—perfect knowledge; pratiṣṭhitā—fixed.

Translation One who is without attachment, who does not rejoice when he obtains good, nor lament when he obtains evil, is firmly fixed in perfect knowledge.

Synonyms yadā—when; saṁharate—withdraws; ca—also; ayam—this; kūrmaḥ—tortoise; aṅgāni—limbs; iva—like; sarvaśaḥ—altogether; indriyāṇi—the senses; indriya-arthebhyḥ—from the sense objects; tasya—his; prajñā—perfect knowledge; pratiṣṭhitā—fixed.

Translation One who is able to withdraw his senses from sense objects, as the tortoise draws its limbs within the shell, is to be understood as truly situated in fixed knowledge.

Synonyms viṣayāḥ—objects for sense enjoyment; vinivartante—are practiced to be refrained from; nirāhārasya—by negative restrictions; dehinaḥ—for one who is embodied; rasa-varjam—giving up the taste; rasaḥ—the attraction; api—although there is; asya—his; param—things which are far superior; dṛṣṭvā—by perceiving; nivartate—he returns.

Translation The embodied soul may refrain from sense enjoyment by negative restrictions, but the taste for sense objects remains. However, one who has experienced a higher taste is automatically restrained from such sense objects.

Synonyms yataḥ—while; hi—certainly; yunjataḥ—being engaged in self-realization; ayuktāḥ—without connection; indriyāṇi—the senses; pramāthīni—agitating; haranti—throw; prasabham—by force; matiḥ—the mind.

Translation The senses are so strong and impetuous, O Arjuna, that they forcibly carry away the mind even of a man of discrimination who is endeavoring to control them.

Synonyms tāni—those; sarvāṇi—all; saṁyamya—keeping under control; yuktaḥ—being engaged; āsīta—should sit; mat—My; paraḥ—devotion; vaśe—in full subjugation; hi—certainly; yasya—one whose; indriyāṇi—senses; tasya—his; prajñā—perfect knowledge; pratiṣṭhitā—fixed.

Translation One who restrains his senses and fixes his consciousness upon Me is known as a man of steady intelligence.

Synonyms dhyāyataḥ—while contemplating; viṣayān—sense objects; puṁsaḥ—of the person; saṅgaḥ—attachment; teṣu—in them; upajāyate—develops; saṅgāt—from attachment; sañjāyate—develops; kāmaḥ—desire; kāmāt—from desire; krodhaḥ—anger; abhijāyate—arises.

Translation While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises.

Synonyms krodhāt—from anger; bhavati—takes place; sammohaḥ—perfect illusion; sammohāt—from illusion; smṛti—of memory; vibhramaḥ—bewilderment; smṛti-bhraṁśāt—after bewilderment of memory; buddhi-nāśaḥ—loss of intelligence; buddhi-nāśāt—and from loss of intelligence; praṇaśyati—one falls down.

Translation From anger, complete delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost one falls down again into the material pool.

Synonyms rāga—attachment; dveṣa—and detachment; viyuktāḥ—being freed from; tu—but; viṣayān—sense objects; indriyaiḥ—by the controlled senses; caran—acting upon; ātma-vaśyaiḥ—under full control; vidheya-ātmā—one who follows regulated freedom; prasādam—the mercy of the Lord; adhigacchati—attains.

Translation But a person free from all attachment and aversion, who is able to control his senses through regulative principles of freedom, can obtain the complete mercy of the Lord.

Synonyms prasāde—upon achievement of the causeless mercy of the Lord; sarva—all; duḥkhānām—material miseries; hāniḥ—destruction; asya—his; upajāyate—takes place; prasanna-cetasaḥ—of the happy-minded; hi—certainly; āśu—very soon; buddhiḥ—intelligence; paryavatiṣṭhate—becomes established.

Translation For one thus satisfied [in Kṛṣṇa consciousness], the threefold miseries of material existence exist no longer; in such a happy state of mind, one’s intelligence becomes steady.

Synonyms na asti—there cannot be; buddhiḥ—transcendental intelligence; ayuktasya—of one who is not connected (with Kṛṣṇa consciousness); na—neither; ca—also; ayuktasya—of one devoid of Kṛṣṇa consciousness; bhāvanā—fixed mind; na—nor; ca—also; abhāvayataḥ—one who is not situated in the self; śāntiḥ—peace; aśāntasya—of the unpeaceful; kutaḥ—where is; sukham—happiness.

Translation One who is not connected with the Supreme [in Kṛṣṇa consciousness] can have neither transcendental intelligence nor a steady mind, without which there is no possibility of peace. And how can there be any happiness without peace?

Synonyms indriyāṇām—of the senses; hi—certainly; caratām—while traveling; yat—which; manaḥ—mind; anuvidhīyate—becomes constantly attached; tat—that; asya—his; harati—takes away; prajñām—intelligence; vāyuḥ—wind; nāvam—a boat; iva—like; ambhasi—on the water.

Translation As a boat on the water is swept away by a strong wind, even one of the roaming senses on which the mind focuses can carry away a man’s intelligence.

Synonyms tasmāt—therefore; yasya—one whose; mahā-bāho—O mighty-armed one; nigṛhītāni—so curbed down; sarvaśaḥ—all around; indriyāṇi—the senses; indriya-arthebhyḥ—from sense objects; tasya—his; prajñā—perfect knowledge; pratiṣṭhitā—fixed.

Translation Therefore, O mighty-armed, one whose senses are restrained from their objects is certainly of steady intelligence.

Synonyms yā—what; niśā—is night; sarva-bhūtānām—for all beings; tasyām—in that; jāgarti—is wakeful; saṁyamī—the self-controlled; yasyām—in which; jāgrati—are awake; bhūtāni—all beings; sā—that is; niśā—night; paśyataḥ—for the introspective; muneḥ—the sage.

Translation What is night for all beings is the time of awakening for the self-controlled; and the time of awakening for all beings is night for the introspective sage.

Synonyms āpūryamāṇam—always being filled; acala-pratiṣṭham—steadily situated; samudram—the ocean; āpaḥ—waters; praviśanti—enter into; yadvat—as; tadvat—so; kāmāḥ—desires; yam—unto whom; praviśanti—enter; sarve—all; saḥ—that person; śāntim—peace; āpnoti—achieves; na—not; kāma-kāmī—the one who desires to fulfill desires.

Translation A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires—that enter like rivers into the ocean, which is ever being filled but is always still—can alone achieve peace, and not the man who strives to satisfy such desires.

Synonyms vihāya—giving up; kāmān—material desires; yaḥ—one who; sarvān—all; pumān—the person; carati—lives; niḥspṛhaḥ—without being disturbed; nirmamaḥ—without a sense of proprietorship; nirahaṅkāraḥ—without false ego; saḥ—he; śāntim—perfect peace; adhigacchati—attains.

Translation A person who has given up all desires for sense gratification, who lives free from desires, who has given up all sense of proprietorship and is devoid of false ego—he alone can attain real peace.

Synonyms eṣā—this; brāhmī—spiritual; sthitiḥ—situation; pārtha—O son of Pṛthā; na—never; enām—this; prāpya—achieving; vimuhyati—is bewildered; sthitvā—being situated; asyām—in this; anta-kāle—at the end of life; api—even; brahma-nirvāṇam—the spiritual kingdom of God; ṛcchati—one attains.

Translation This is the way of the spiritual and godly life, after attaining which a man is not bewildered. If one is thus situated even at the hour of death, one can enter into the kingdom of God.