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Chapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation · 78 verses

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Bhakti & surrenderChapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 18.52

Purification, realization and knowing Krishna by bhakti

बुद्ध्या विश‍ुद्धया युक्तो धृत्यात्मानं नियम्य च ।

शब्दादीन्विषयांस्त्यक्त्वा रागद्वेषौ व्युदस्य च ॥ ५१ ॥

विविक्तसेवी लघ्वाशी यतवाक्कायमानस: ।

ध्यानयोगपरो नित्यं वैराग्यं समुपाश्रित: ॥ ५२ ॥

अहङ्कारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं परिग्रहम् ।

विमुच्य निर्मम: शान्तो ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते ॥ ५३ ॥

buddhyā viśuddhayā yukto

dhṛtyātmānaṁ niyamya ca

śabdādīn viṣayāṁs tyaktvā

rāga-dveṣau vyudasya ca

vivikta-sevī laghv-āśī

yata-vāk-kāya-mānasaḥ

dhyāna-yoga-paro nityaṁ

vairāgyaṁ samupāśritaḥ

ahaṅkāraṁ balaṁ darpaṁ

kāmaṁ krodhaṁ parigraham

vimucya nirmamaḥ śānto

brahma-bhūyāya kalpate

Translation

Being purified by his intelligence and controlling the mind with determination, giving up the objects of sense gratification, being freed from attachment and hatred, one who lives in a secluded place, who eats little, who controls his body, mind and power of speech, who is always in trance and who is detached, free from false ego, false strength, false pride, lust, anger, and acceptance of material things, free from false proprietorship, and peaceful – such a person is certainly elevated to the position of self-realization.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

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

Detachment and Self-Realization

  1. 1Living in seclusion, eating little, controlling body, mind and speech, and remaining detached lead toward self-realization.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that a detached person does not identify with the body and is satisfied with what the Lord provides by His grace.
  3. 3Eat only what you need, and practice controlling your body, mind and speech.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 18, The Perfection of Renunciation: purification, realization and knowing krishna by bhakti.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Loving service and surrender to Kṛṣṇa.

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Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: bhakti, śaraṇāgati.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 18.52 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to bhakti & surrender?

Practice

Offer one act today with devotion.

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Related verses

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

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