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Chapter 5 · Action in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness · 29 verses

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Mind & yogaChapter 5 · Action in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness
5.205.22

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 5.21

Sense control, peace and inner happiness

बाह्यस्पर्शेष्वसक्तात्मा विन्दत्यात्मनि यत्सुखम् ।

स ब्रह्मयोगयुक्तात्मा सुखमक्षयमश्न‍ुते ॥ २१ ॥

bāhya-sparśeṣv asaktātmā

vindaty ātmani yat sukham

sa brahma-yoga-yuktātmā

sukham akṣayam aśnute

Translation

Such a liberated person is not attracted to material sense pleasure but is always in trance, enjoying the pleasure within. In this way the self-realized person enjoys unlimited happiness, for he concentrates on the Supreme.

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.

Happiness in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness

  1. 1A liberated person is not attracted to material sense pleasure and enjoys unlimited inner happiness by concentrating on the Supreme.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that loving service to Kṛṣṇa brings ever-new pleasure, removing the taste for material enjoyment, especially sex pleasure.
  3. 3Engage in loving service to Kṛṣṇa rather than seeking happiness in material sense pleasure.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 5, Action in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness: sense control, peace and inner happiness.

What it teaches

Theme summary

A disciplined mind is one's best friend.

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Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: manas, indriya, yoga.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 5.21 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to mind & yoga?

Practice

Sit quietly for ten minutes and gently return the mind.

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The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 5 ›
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Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 5.20Sense control, peace and inner happinessBG 5.22Sense control, peace and inner happinessBG 6.35Practice and detachment

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

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Ask about BG 5.21 — 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.