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Chapter 5 · Action in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness · 29 verses

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Mind & yogaChapter 5 · Action in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness
5.225.24

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 5.23

Sense control, peace and inner happiness

शक्न‍ोतीहैव य: सोढुं प्राक्शरीरविमोक्षणात् ।

कामक्रोधोद्भ‍वं वेगं स युक्त: स सुखी नर: ॥ २३ ॥

śaknotīhaiva yaḥ soḍhuṁ

prāk śarīra-vimokṣaṇāt

kāma-krodhodbhavaṁ vegaṁ

sa yuktaḥ sa sukhī naraḥ

Translation

Before giving up this present body, if one is able to tolerate the urges of the material senses and check the force of desire and anger, he is well situated and is happy in this world.

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.

Controlling Desire and Anger

  1. 1One who tolerates sense urges and controls desire and anger before leaving this body is well situated and happy.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that unfulfilled material desires cause anger. Controlling the senses and mind supports steady progress in self-realization.
  3. 3Practice controlling the urges of speech, mind, and senses, and work hard to check desire and anger.

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.

2

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 5.23 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 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 5.20Sense control, peace and inner happinessBG 5.21Sense 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 5.23 — 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.