Bhagavad Gita Chapter 15, Verse 5

English Translation

The wise ones who are free from pride and non-discrimination, who have conered the evil of association, [Hatred and love arising from association with foes and friends.] who are ever devoted to spirituality, completely free from desires, free from the dualities called happiness and sorrow, reach that undecaying State.

Detailed Commentary

15.5. Commentary -- **Nirmānamohāḥ** -- The sense of 'I' and 'mine' in the body gives rise to the desire for honor and respect. Due to attachment to the body, a person considers the body's honor as their own and gets trapped. Devotees whose sense of belonging is solely in Bhagavan do not have the sense of 'I' and 'mine' in the body, hence they are not affected by the body's honor and respect. Residing in the refuge of Bhagavan, the desire for honor and respect does not remain in their minds. Therefore, by making Bhagavan their sole aim, those devotees turn away from the world, and the delusion (*moha*) of the world within them ceases. **Jitasangadoṣāḥ** -- Attraction towards Bhagavan is called Prema, and attraction towards the world is called Āsakti. Defects like Mamata (possessiveness), Spṛhā (longing), Vāsanā (latent desire), Āśā (hope), etc., arise only due to Āsakti. By taking refuge in Bhagavan, devotees do not have attachment to worldly enjoyments. Therefore, they conquer the blemishes of Mamata. **Vinivṛttakāmāḥ** -- Desire is for an unobtained object. Devotees who have no objective of obtaining anything in the world remain free from Kāmās (desires). With the absence of Mamata in the body, the desires of devotees cease. Devotees experience that the body, senses, mind, intellect, and ego all belong to Bhagavan. They possess nothing other than Bhagavan. **Adhyātmanityāḥ** -- Devotees believe, "I belong to Bhagavan, and Bhagavan belongs to me." This keeps their state continually in Bhagavan. Just as someone identifies as a Brahmin and remains in that consciousness, so too do devotees remain in the state of Bhagavan. **Dvandaïrvimuktāḥ** -- Devotees are free from dualities like pleasure-pain, joy-sorrow, etc. Whatever situation arises, they consider it as Bhagavan's Prasāda (divine grace). Favorable or unfavorable circumstances hold no meaning for them, because they know that Bhagavan's divine ordinance is supreme. The effect of dualities ceases for them. **Gacchantyamūḍhāḥ padamavyayaṁ tat** -- One who understands the permanent and the temporary, and thus realizes the true reality, progresses towards Paramātmā. To perceive the world as real and separate from Paramātmā is indeed a delusion. Those who have been freed from this delusion are here referred to as Amūḍhāḥ (the undeluded). **Significance** -- Truly, the world is perishing every moment; understanding this alone leads to true Nirvāṇa. Desires are never fulfilled; as soon as one is fulfilled, another takes birth. Therefore, liberation from desires is the means to true peace. As long as a person does not remain established in their true Self, the dualities of pleasure and pain continue to affect them. By having faith in Bhagavan's ordinance, dualities cease. Therefore, our meditation should be on our permanent (eternal) Self. **Context** -- Regarding the imperishable state (*Avināśī Pada*) described in the previous verse, which devotees attain, Bhagavan further elaborates.