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Chapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation · 78 verses

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Nature & guṇasChapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation
18.3518.37

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 18.36

Knowledge, action, determination and happiness in the modes

सुखं त्विदानीं त्रिविधं श‍ृणु मे भरतर्षभ ।

अभ्यासाद्रमते यत्र दु:खान्तं च निगच्छति ॥ ३६ ॥

sukhaṁ tv idānīṁ tri-vidhaṁ

śṛṇu me bharatarṣabha

abhyāsād ramate yatra

duḥkhāntaṁ ca nigacchati

Translation

O best of the Bhāratas, now please hear from Me about the three kinds of happiness by which the conditioned soul enjoys, and by which he sometimes comes to the end of all distress.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Three Kinds of Happiness

  1. 1The verse introduces three kinds of happiness through which the conditioned soul enjoys and sometimes ends all distress.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that material enjoyment repeats the same pleasures. Association with a great soul can awaken real Kṛṣṇa consciousness and bring relief from material entanglement.
  3. 3Seek good association to recognize repeated material pleasures for what they are and awaken Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 18, The Perfection of Renunciation: knowledge, action, determination and happiness in the modes.

What it teaches

Theme summary

The modes of nature condition behavior.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: prakṛti, guṇa.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 18.36 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to nature & guṇas?

Practice

Observe which mode shaped your last decision.

4

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 18.19Knowledge, action, determination and happiness in the modesBG 18.20Knowledge, action, determination and happiness in the modesBG 7.14Crossing beyond māyā

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

Ask the study guide

Ask about BG 18.36 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.